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HAND-BOOK 



OF 



NORTH CAROLINA 



WITH 



MAP OF THE STATE 



PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



RALEIGH: 
P. M. HALE, State Printer and Bindei 

1886. 






M*f' 






PRESSES OF E. M. UZZELL, 

RALEIGH, N. C 



CONTENTS. 



GENERAL SKETCH ] ™\ 

Eastern Section f . 

Middle and Piedmont Section 22 

Western Section L 

Geological Formation 4 g 

PEOPLE OF THE STATE 52 

GOVERNMENT AND TAXATION. 

• 0'3 

EDUCATION . 5g) 

RELIGION 

••'•y * bd 

STATE DEBT 

oS 

PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 65 

DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES 67 

Alamance .^ 

. 120 

Alexander... -. 00 

- Uo 

Alleghany m 

Anson ir ,_ 

. 10/ 

Ashe m 

Beaueort 

Bertie 

D Si) 

Bladen 99 

Brunswick R9 , 

Buncombe 100 

o loo 

*™ KE 130 

Cabarrus.... n , 

Caldwell ' -, 0rt 

^ 129 

Camden 

,, OS 

Carteret P . £> 

*% 



1 \ 



IV CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Caswell 121 

Catawba 113 

Chatham 105 

Cherokee 145 

Chowan 71 

Clay 144 

Cleveland 116 

Columbus 83 

Craven 77 

Cumberland 95 

Currituck 67 

Dare 72 

Davidson.... 109 

Davie 124 

Duplin 94 

Durham 105 

Edgecombe 88 

Forsyth 124 

Franklin 101 

Gaston 115 

Gates 83 

Graham 143 

Granville 102 

Greene 89 

Guilford 118 

Halifax 86 

Harnett 96 

Haywood 140 

Henderson 139 

Hertford 84 

Hyde 74 

Iredell 112 

Jackson 141 

Johnston .. 91 

Jones 78 

Lenoir 93 



CONTENTS. V 

PAGE. 

Lincoln 114 

McDowell 131 

Macon 142 

Madison 137 

Martin 90 

mecklenburg: ,..' h2 

Mitchell 135 

m ontgomery 106 

Moore 97 

Nash 37 

New Hanover 81 

Northampton 85 

Onslow 79 

Orange 104 

Pamlico 76 

Pasquotank , 59 

Pender 80 

Perquimans 70 

Person 120 

Pitt 89 

Polk 132 

Randolph 118 

Richmond 98 

Robeson 98 

Rockingham 122 

Rowan 110 

Rutherford 117 

Sampson 94 

Stanly 108 

Stokes 123 

Surry 126 

Swain , 143 

Transylvania 139 

Tyrrell 73 

Union 107 

Vance 103 



VI CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Wake 103 

Warren 100 

Washington 78 

Watauga 134 

Wayne 92 

Wilkes 127 

Wilson 91 

Yadkin 125 

Yancey. 136 

MINERALS 146 

Iron Ores . , 146 

Of the East 146 

Halifax and Granville 147 

Johnston and Wake 148 

Chatham and Orange.. 148 

Person 153 

Montgomery and Randolph 153 

Guilford 154 

Mecklenburg and Cabarrus 155 

Gaston, Lincoln and Catawba 356 

Yadkin, Surry and Stokes 161 

Burke, Caldwell, &c 162 

Mitchell and Ashe - 16 

French Broad 167 

Cherokee ,. 168 

Coal 169 

Deep River Coalfield 170 

Dan River Coalfield 174 

Gold 175 

Copper , 176 

Silver, Lead, Zinc 178 

Other Useful Minerals 179 

Mica 179 

Corundum 180 

Chromic Iron 180 

Manganese 181 



I 



CONTENTS. VII 

PAGE. 

Kaolin • 181 

Fire Clay 182 

Agalmatolite • * 83 

Whetstone 183 

Millstone and Grindstone 184 

Graphite 185 

Limestone -*-°" 

Marble 188 

Talc 188 

Serpentine * 89 

Baryte 190 

Marls : 191 

Peat and Muck • 194 

Asbestos • I"'* 

Soapstone I 9 "* 

Pyrite 195 

Building Stones 196 

Precious Stones •• * 9 ~ 

Diamond • ^ 9/ 

Beryl.. 198 

Zircon 1" 

Garnet... < 199 

Agate 200 

Opal • • - 201 

Hiddenite ' 201 

Emerald 202 

Ruby 203 

Sapphire 203 

Mineral Waters 204 

Mining in 1885 205 

Warren, Franklin, Nash 207 

Moore • 211 

Montgomery 217 

Randolph 224 

Stanly • 229 

Union •'• 232 



VIII CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Davidson 236, 248 

Guilford 246 

Rowan 249 

Cabarrus • 256 

Mecklenburg 260 

Gaston 267, 283 

Lincoln -"^ 

Catawba 2/0 

Davie 271 

Ashe • 272 

Caldwell 272 

Burke 273 

McDowell 273 

Rutherford ■ 273 

Cleveland 273 

Polk 279 

Granville 280 

Person 280 

MANUFACTURES • 286 

Manufacturing Facilities 286 

Cotton Factories • 293 

Woollen Mills : 299 

Tobacco Factories •••• 301 

Manufactures of Wood... 302 

Iron Manufactures 304 

Paper Factories 30o 

Flouring and Grist Mills 306 

Rice Mills 307 

Fertilizer Factories •• 308 

Pine Leaf Factories 310 

Mill Stones 311 

Cotton Seed Oil Mills 312 

Fish Oil Mills 338 

AGRICULTURE •• 314 

Farm Areas and Classification 314 



CONTENTS. IX 

PAGE. 

Agricultural Population 319 

Agricultural Societies and Fairs 319 

Ensilage 320 

Principal Products , 321 

WOODS AND TIMBERS 328 

TAR, PITCH AND TURPENTINE 329 

SILK CULTURE 331 

FISHING INTERESTS 334 

The Oyster Survey 336 

German Carp 338 

Fish Oil Mills 338 

NEWSPAPERS 342 

COMMERCIAL FACILITIES 347 

Railroads 347 

Waterways „ 349 

REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY— folding leaf after 349 

POPULATION , 350 

MAP OF NORTH CAROLINA 



GENERAL SKETCH. 



The State of North Carolina is bounded on the north 
by Virginia, east by the Atlantic Ocean, south by South 
Carolina, and west by Tennessee. It is included nearly 
between the parallels 34° and 36i° north latitude, and 
between the meridians 75j-° and 84J° west longitude. 

The extreme length of the State from east to west is 
503J miles; its average breadth is 100 miles; its extreme 
breadth is 187} miles. Its area embraces 52,286 square 
miles, of which 48,666 is land, and 3,620 is water. 

Its topography may be best conceived by picturing to 
the mind's eye the surface of the State as a vast decliv- 
ity, sloping down from the summits of the Smoky 
mountains, an altitude of 7,000 feet, to the level of the 
Atlantic Ocean. The Smoky mountains constitute a 
part of the great Appalachian chain, which here attains 
its greatest height; the greatest, indeed, in the United 
States, east of the Rocky mountains. This slope is 
made up of three wide extended terraces — if that term 
may be allowed ; the first a high mountain plateau — 
distinguished as the Western or Mountain Section ; the 
second, a submontane plateau, distinguished as the Mid- 
dle Section, of which the western half is further dis- 



Z HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

tinguished as the Piedmont Section ; the third, the 
Atlantic plain, distinguished as the Low Country or 
Eastern Section, and that part from the head of the 
tides downward as the Tide-water Section. From the 
first to the second section there is a sharp descent through 
a few miles only of not less than fifteen hundred feet; 
from the middle to the low country a descent of about 
two hundred feet; through the two latter, however, 
there is a constant downward grade. 

The State is traversed by two ranges of mountains. 
The first, the Blue Ridge, a grand and lofty chain, which, 
conforming to the trend of the Smoky mountains and 
that of the coast line, runs in a direction 1ST. E. and S. 
W. entirely across the State. The Brushy and the South 
mountains are bold offshoots of this chain. The second, 
the Occoneeche and Uw T harrie mountains, a range of 
much inferior elevation — whose rounded summits and 
sloping outlines present themselves in forms alike grace- 
ful and pleasing — crosses the State in a parallel direc- 
tion near its centre. 

The State is watered by numerous rivers, many of 
which have their rise on the flanks of the Blue Ridge. 
Those which flow w^est empty into the Mississippi, 
breaking their way through the Smoky mountains, 
plunging headlong for miles through chasms from three 
to four thousand feet in depth, the walls of which are 
perpendicular to the height of one thousand feet. Some 
of these gloomy passages have seldom been explored ; 
no boat could live in such a current, and it is hard to 



GENERAL SKETCH. 6 

find a foothold along the sides. Of those which rise on 
the eastern flank only one, the Roanoke, reaches the 
sea within the borders of the State. The rest, following 
the line of the softest rock, meander first towards the 
northeast, then sweeping round with bold curves, flow 
to the sea through South Carolina. The principal rivers 
which reach the sea within the State limits take their 
rise in the northern part of the Middle Section, and on 
the eastern flank of the Occoneeche range near its north- 
ern termination, and of these only one, the Cape Fear, 
flows directly into the ocean. Many of the rivers in 
every part of the State are noble streams in their middle 
course; some of those that flow into the sounds swell to 
majestic proportions, spreading out to a width of from 
three to five miles. The eastern rivers are navigable 
from fifty to one hundred and fifty miles. 

By reference to the mean parallels of latitude of the 
United States it will be seen that North Carolina is sit- 
uated nearly midway of the Union; and inasmuch as 
those States lie entirely within the temperate zone, it 
follows that North Carolina is situated upon the central 
belt of that zone. This position gives to the State a 
climate not excelled by any in the world. She is exempt 
from the extreme cold which prevails in the Northern 
States, and to a considerable extent from the early frosts 
which visit the States immediately north of her, on the 
one hand ; and from the torrid heat and malarial influ- 
ences which prevail in the States to the south of her on 
the other. Other causes apart from its position concur to 



4 HAND-BOOK OF NOETH CAROLINA. 

produce this result. On the west the lofty Appalachian 
chain interposes its mighty barrier between the bleak 
w T inds of the northwest and the general surface of the 
State. On the east the coast is swept by the Gulf 
Stream, the meliorating effect of which is felt far inland. 
From these causes combined the temperature of the 
seasons ranges within moderate limits. The Spring comes 
in with less of those fickle variations which mark its 
advent elsewhere on this continent. The Summers are 
not oppressive, even in the low country, or if so, for a 
few days only. But in the Autumn nature here exhibits 
herself in the most benignant mood in her most favored 
zone. From the incoming of October to the latter part 
of December, there is an almost uninterrupted succession 
of bright, sunny days, during which the air is dry, crisp 
and pure — a season equally favorable to the ingathering 
of the crops and to active exertion of every kind. The 
reign of Winter as respects cold and wet is short, and 
field labor is carried on throughout that season, with the 
exception of two or three days at a time. Frost makes 
its appearance about the fifteenth of October, and 
sometimes there is not enough to nip the tender 
vegetation until the end of November. From the 
Blue Ridge to the seaboard, ice rarely forms of a thick- 
ness to be gathered except in localities overhung and 
deeply shaded by high southern bluffs. When snow 
falls it covers the ground for only a few inches, and is 
quickly dissipated by the sun. Fogs are of rare occur- 
rence, and then mainly in the form of a belt of light 



GENERAL SKETCH. 

vapor marking the course of the larger streams in the 
latter part of Summer and during the Autumn months. 
The average rainfall throughout the State is fifty-three 
inches, which is pretty uniformly distributed through 
the year. 

Prof. Kerr, in his Geological Report, classes the cli- 
mate of the different sections of North Carolina with 
reference to their isothermal ranges, as follows: "Mid- 
dle and Eastern North Carolina correspond to Middle 
and Southern France, and Western North Carolina to 
Northern France and Belgium. And all the climates 
of Italy, from Palermo to Milan and Venice, are repre- 
sented." 

The following tables computed by Prof. Kerr, partly 
from observations taken in all sections of the State for a 
term of years, aud partly from Blodgett, will show the 
range and character of the climate better than any 
description : 

Mean annual temperature for the State 59° Far. 

'•' summer " " " 75 

" winter " " " 43 

" rainfall " " 45 inches. 

MIDDLE SECTION. 

Raleigh, N. C 60° 76° 44° 48° 

Florence, Italy 59 75 44 27 

EASTERN SECTION. 

Beaufort, N. C. (on the coast) 62° 78° 46° 

Genoa, Italy ...61 75 47 



6 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Smithville, N. C. (Sea Coast) 66° 80° 51° 

Mobile, Ala 66 79 52 

Nicolosi, Sicily 64 79 51 

WESTERN SECTION. 

Asheville, N. C. (In the Mountains) , 54° 71° 38° 

Venice, Italy 55 73 38 

Bordeaux, France 57 71 43 

Thus, he says, "it will be seen that the range of climate 
in the State is the same as that from the Gulf of Mexico 
to New York. The influence of this circumstance is 
seen in the wide range of natural and agricultural pro- 
ducts, from the Palmetto and Magnolia grandiflora to 
the White Pine, Hemlock and Balsam Fir, and from 
the sugar cane and rice to Canadian oats and buck- 
wheat/' 

For a thorough understanding it will be necessary to 
take a survey of the different sections more in detail. 
It has been seen that the divisions of the State are 
founded on natural and physical peculiarities. 



Eastern Section, 



The whole eastern portion of the State belongs to the 
quaternary system, with frequent exposure along the 
rivers, ravines, and ditches of the eocene and miocene 
epochs of the tertiary. It consists of a vast plain, 
stretching from the sea coast into the interior of the 



GENERAL SKETCH. 7 

country, a distance of from one hunt] red to a hundred 
and twenty-five miles. Traversing this section from 
north to south are tracts of country which vary little 
from a perfect level. The Wilmington and Weldon 
Railroad has a stretch of forty miles where there is 
neither curve, excavation nor embankment. From 
east to west the surface rises by easy gradations at the 
rate of a little more than a foot to the mile. The rise, 
however, is not perceptible to the traveler. But though 
level in parts, it is in general relieved by slight undula- 
tions. In its extreme western part, in the county of 
Moore, it attains an elevation of above five huudred 
feet. 

The western boundary may be roughly defined by a 
line extendiug from the western part of Warren, 
through Franklin, Wake, Cumberland, Chatham, 
Moore, Montgomery and Anson. This line marks 
what, at an early period of the earth's history, was a 
line of sea beach. Over this whole section the primi- 
tive rocks are covered with a deep stratum of earth, 
principally sand. Along the western border there is a 
broad belt of unequal width, but generally from thirty 
to forty miles across, where granite, slate and other 
rocks are sparingly distributed : they are also found 
near water-courses in the interior of this section. The 
belt of primitive rock here mentioned extends to the 
Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, from the Virginia 
line to Goldsboro, and from thence to a line drawn 
through Averasboro to the South Carolina line about 



8 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

where the Pee Dee enters that State. From the line 
there indicated to the sea coast, not a stone of any size, 
scarcely a pebble, except at a few points, is to be met 
with. There is a rock peculiar to this section formed 
by the combination of the calcareous element of sea 
shells, and the silicious matter of sand. It is full of 
cavities — the prints of decomposed shells — and is used 
to some extent as mill stones. 

A bed of shell limestone underlies this part of the 
State, cropping out at intervals. It forms a good lime- 
stone, sufficiently pure for all the common purposes 
of building, and in quantity large enough to supply 
a wide extent of country with quicklime. Examples 
of this are found nine miles below Waynesboro, in 
the northwest corner of Jones, in the northern part of 
Onslow, at Wilmington, and on the northwest branch of 
the Cape Fear to a distance of forty miles above. 

This section is made up of beds of clay and sand with 
vast quantities of shells imbedded in them. The soil 
varies in character to the extent that the one or the 
other predominates; and to the extent that the shells 
when intermixed with it, have undergone decomposition. 
The upland soil is for the most part a sandy loam, easily 
accessible to the sun's rays, easily worked, and very pro- 
ductive in the crops there cultivated. There are, how- 
ever, extensive areas of country where sand predomi- 
nates to such a degree that the surface to a considerable 
depth is a bed of white sand. Yet this kind of land is 
the favorite habitat of the long-leaf pine. When cleared 



GENERAL SKETCH. 9 

it yields good crops of corn and cotton for a few years 
without manure, and always with slight help from pro- 
per commercial fertilizers. There are other extensive 
areas where clay enters so largely into the soil as to form 
a clay loam. The counties on the north side of Albe- 
marle sound — a very fertile tract of country — are ex- 
amples of this class. The alluvial lands of this section — 
lands always in the highest degree productive from the 
fact that all the elements of fertility are intimately in- 
termingled by having been once suspended in water — 
are of unusual extent and importance. The grain 
grown there supplies food not only for people of other 
parts of the State, but large populations in other States. 
There are also extensive areas where the shells of the 
eocene era of the tertiary formation — and which have 
been decomposed by time — crop out to the surface and 
impart to the soil a high degree of fertility. This is the 
case from the eastern part of Jones county to the Cape 
Fear. The greater proportion of the good lands in 
Jones depends upon the fact that this formation is largely 
developed there. The rich lands of Onslow, and of 
Rocky Point, in New Hanover, owe their excellence to 
the same cause. Another class of land in point of fer- 
tility equalling any in the w T orld is that reclaimed from 
some of the lakes of this section. To two of these the 
process of drainage has been applied — Lake Mattamus- 
keet, and Lake Scuppernong (Phelps). By canals dug 
from the lake to the nearest stream which afforded the 
necessary fall a wide margin entirely round the lake has 



10 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

been brought into cultivation. These lands seem to be 
absolutely inexhaustible. The cultivation of three quar- 
ters of a century has made no change in their produc- 
tive capacity. To the lands reclaimed from the borders 
of marshes — so frequent near the sea shore — the same 
remark may be strictly applied. 

Another class of land remains to be mentioned which 
will be a resource of inestimable value in time, perhaps 
not distant. Bordering on the sea and sounds are ex- 
tensive tracts of country designated as swamps. Though 
so-called they differ widely in their characteristic features 
from an ordinary swamp. They are not alluvial tracts, 
neither are they subject to overflow. The land covered 
by many of them lies for the greater part quite low; 
but this remark seldom applies wholly to any of them — 
to some does not apply at all. On the contrary many 
of them occupy the divides or water sheds between the 
rivers and sounds, and are elevated many feet above the 
adjacent rivers of which they are the sources. These 
latter are susceptible of drainage, and when- reclaimed 
have every element of the most exuberant and lasting- 
fertility. Bay river swamp, between Pamlico and Neuse 
rivers, and Green swamp in Brunswick and Columbus 
counties may be mentioned as examples. The elevation 
of the latter is forty feet above the sea level. The work 
of drainage is simple. From the border of the swamp 
which is always the highest land, the bottom slopes in 
every direction gradually, almost imperceptibly to the 
centre. A canal cut through this border into the swamp 



GENEEAL SKETCH. 11 

and carried to some neighboring stream, lays bare an ex- 
tensive belt along the entire border. The aggregate 
territory in the State known as swamp lands is between 
three and four thousand square miles. When drainage 
shall be properly carried out over this great territory — 
a work which, on account of the slight difficulties to be 
encountered as compared with those which they encoun- 
tered and overcame, would be deemed trifling by the 
laborious North German and the indefatigable Hollan- 
der — hundreds of square miles of land of surpassing 
fertility will be added to the area now in cultivation. 

Throughout this entire section cotton, corn, oats, sor- 
ghum, peas, potatoes, especially sweet potatoes, are the 
staple crops; the culture of tobacco has been lately in- 
troduced with success. Upon the rich alluvions and the 
reclaimed lake and swamp lands, corn, with peas planted 
in the intervals between the corn, forms the exclusive 
crop. Occasionally on the broad low-grounds of the 
Roanoke, wheat is grown to a considerable extent. In 
the counties on the north of Albemarle sound it is one 
of the staple crops. On the low-grouuds of the lower 
Cape Fear rice has long been the staple crop, and during 
recent years its culture has been extended northward 
along the low lying lauds of the rivers and sounds. The 
upland variety of rice has been introduced within a few 
years past with entire success. The cultivation of jute 
also has been the subject of experiment with like suc- 
cess, and it only needs proper encouragement to be 
grown to any extent. This section is everywhere un- 



12 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

derlaid with marl — a mixture of carbonate of lime and 
clay formed by the decomposition of the imbedded 
shells — sufficient in quantity, when raised and applied to 
the surface, to bring it to a high pitch of fertility and 
maintain it so. 

The only metallic substances that have been found 
within this section are some of the ores of iron; the 
bisulphuret, hyd rated oxide, and sulphate, or copperas. 

In the counties of Duplin and Sampson valuable de- 
• posits of phosphates have been discovered, which are 
now being mined and ground for fertilizing purposes. 
They are known to exist in the adjoining counties, but 
to what extent has not been yet ascertained. From the 
similarity of the geological conditions throughout the 
eastern section, there is little doubt that a systematic ex- 
ploration there will lead to further extensive discoveries. 

The use of marl, on account of its lower value in 
comparison with its bulk and consequent cost of trans- 
portation, must be mainly, if not wholly, confined to the 
section in which it is found. Phosphates, on the other 
band, on account of their high fertilizing power, admit 
of transportation to any distance, and may be used any- 
where. 

Dr. Emmons remarks: "The swamp soils of North 
Carolina show a greater capacity for endurance than the 
prairie soils of Illinois, notwithstanding the annual crops 
are somewhat less per acre; and on the score of location 
we are unable to see that the Illinois soils have the pre- 
ference. Nor, as regards health, are our swamp soils 



GENERAL SKETCH. 13 

more subject to malaria than the country of the prairies." 
He refers to the remarkable fact that, "persons live and 
labor in swamps with impunity or freedom from dis- 
ease." This statement is fully sustained by the reports 
of our engineers who have had charge of the construc- 
tion of railroads in that section. 

The swamps, in their natural state, afford abundant 
pasturage. They are covered by a dense growth of reeds 
which supply excellent food for cattle winter and sum- 
mer. 

That eminent agriculturist, Mr. Edmund Ruffin, of 
Virginia, who studied this section of the State with care, 
expressed a high appreciation of the tide-water region 
for the cultivation of grasses. He said: "There is no 
better country for grasses east of the mountains. In 
small lots I saw dry meadows of orchard grass and clover 
that would have been deemed good in the best grass dis- 
tricts." It is evident from the humid character of the 
climate in that region, and from the fact that the heats 
of summer are tempered by sea-breezes, ow r i ng to the 
proximity of the ocean, that the conditions are such as 
to favor the growth of this family of plants. 

Among the resources for future use along the seaboard 
country, peat is entitled to a prominent place. It exists 
over hundreds of square miles in area, and to the depth 
of many feet. At no distant day it will be extensively 
used both as a fuel and fertilizer. 

If the indications of nature are to be relied on, North 
Carolina was plainly marked out as the land for vine- 



14 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

yards. In the sober narrative of the voyage of Amadas 
and Barlowe, made in 1584, to North Carolina, then an 
unbroken wilderness, the author tells us:. "We viewed 
the land about us, being, where we first landed, very 
sandy and low towards the water side, but so full of 
grapes as the very beating and surge of the sea over- 
flowed them, of which we found such plenty as well 
there as in all places else, both on the sand and on the 
green soil, on the hills as in the plains, as well on every 
little shrub as also climbing towards the tops of high 
cedars, that I think in all the world the like abundance 
is not to be found; and myself having seen those parts 
of Europe that most abound, find such difference as were 
incredible to be written." Upon the visit of the voy- 
agers to the house of the Indian King, on Roanoke 
Island, wine was set before them by his wife. It is fur- 
ther mentioned that, "while the grape lasteth, they (the 
Indians) drink wine;" they had not learned the art of 
preserving it. Harriot, a distinguished man in an age 
of distinguished men, of whom it was justly said that 
he cultivated all sciences and excelled in all, visited the 
same coast in 1586, where he was struck with the abun- 
dance of grape vines, and he was impressed with the 
fact that wine might be made one of the future staples 
of the State. "Were they," he writes, "planted and 
husbanded as they ought, a principal commodity of wines 
might be raised," This State has proved to be far richer 
in this respect than it is probable even he suspected. 
Grape vines were found in equal profusion in the origi- 



GENERAL SKETCH. 15 

nal forest throughout the State. They often interlaced 
the trees to such an extent that they were a serious im- 
pediment to the work of clearing away the forest, catch- 
ing and suspending the trees as they were felled. At 
this day, if a tract of forest is enclosed, and cattle of 
every kind excluded, they spring up spontaneously and 
thickly over the land. Some of the finest wine grapes 
of the United States, the Scuppernong, the Catawba and 
the Lincoln, are native to this State. But it was long 
before the bounty of nature in this regard was improved. 
This was probably due to the fact that the State was set- 
tled almost wholly by emigrants from the British Isles, 
who knew nothing of the culture of the vine. It was 
planted here and there to yield grapes for table use; but 
it was not until within thirty years that a vineyard was 
known in the State. Within that period several of large 
and a great number of small extent have been planted. 
Grapes in season are abundantly supplied for domestic 
consumption, and shipped in hundreds of tons. The 
wines of the established vineyards are held in high and 
just repute. 

All the cultivated fruits and berries grow here in great 
perfection with the exception of the apple. This, though 
by no means an inferior fruit, is yet not equal in size and 
flavor to that of the Middle and Western sections. 
Among the swamps the cranberry is found in profusion. 
The melons are of every variety and of peculiar excel- 
lence. 



16 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

An industry peculiar to this section is what is known 
as the " trucking business." It consists in rearing fruits 
and vegetables for the Northern markets. The principal 
centres are Golclsboro and Newbern ; but it is probable 
that the farmers along the line of the Norfolk and Eden- 
ton Railroad will become successful competitors for this 
business. The essentials for success are found there — 
a fertile soil and quick transportation. 

Each section of the State embraces a great number of 
trees, largely used in building and the domestic arts, not 
mentioned here ; only those are here mentioned the tim- 
bers of which are exported beyond the State, or which 
have become the subject of extensive home industries. 
For a complete list of the timber trees of each section, 
the reader is referred to the table on a subsequent page. 
Some of them are known by different names; the botan- 
ical name is therefore added for the purpose of identifi- 
cation. The trees used for shade and for the adornment 
of pleasure grounds are omitted altogether. 

In speaking of the timber trees of this section, the first 
place is due to the long-leaf pine (Pinus australis). It 
is the most valuable of all trees. Apart from its pro- 
ducts — turpentine, tar, rosin and the spirits distilled from 
the turpentine — its uses in civil and naval architecture 
defy enumeration. The timber and its products were 
long, and are to-day, among the chief articles of export 
from this State. It alone has brought, and now brings, 
ships from every port of the world to Wilmington, the 
chief seaport town of the State. Considerable inroads 



GENERAL SKETCH. 17 

have beeu made upon these forests contiguous to railroads 
and navigable streams. A vast reserve, however, remains 
for the use of future generations; it still covers a wide 
area in this section. 

The eyp7*ess, (Taxodium distichum), is uext in impor- 
tance. It is found everywhere in the swamps of the eastern 
part of this section. The axe has been diligently plied 
in the cypress forest for three-quarters of a century or 
more; its timber being among the most valuable for the 
frame and woodwork of houses, for shingles, for fencing 
and for water-pipes. Yet the margins of the swamps 
only have been cleared. Beyond this margin is an 
immense forest of these trees which has been scarcely 
encroached upon. Its height is from sixty to one hun- 
dred feet, with a circumference above its swollen base of 
from twenty to thirty feet — often much, larger. 

The white cedar (Cupressus thyoides), commonly called 
juniper, is also abundant in the swamps. For the many 
uses to which the timber of this tree is applied, as for 
building, for water vessels, &c, these forests have been 
as much cut into, and for as long a time, as that of the 
cypress; but the supply is inexhaustible. The tree is 
from seventy to eighty feet high, with a diameter of two 
to three feet. 

The live oak (Quercus virens), so highly prized for 
ship building, is found all along our coast, though most 
abundant from Hatteras southward. It is commonly 
forty to fifty feet high, and one to two feet through the 
trunk. 



18 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Besides the present existing forest there are over 
large areas of the swamp lands, several successive gen- 
erations of buried forests, the timber of which is in good 
preservation, ready to be exhumed when the growth now 
standing shall have been exhausted. These buried 
trunks of trees will in time be utilized here as thev have 
been along the coast of New Jersey and Delaware. 

The main-land terminates not at the sea, but at large 
bodies of water termed sounds. These sounds answer 
very slightly to the sense in which that word is employed 
by geographers. As employed by them the word sound 
designates a strait between the main-land and an isle, or 
a strait connecting two seas, or connecting a sea or lake 
with the oeean. These sounds are properly narrow seas. 
They are separated from the ocean by a barrier of sand 
called "The Banks," which stretches along the whole 
coast, except at Beaufort and at the mouth of the Cape 
Fear. Between these sounds and the ocean are a few 
narrow passes termed inlets. 

The largest of these sounds are Pamlico and Albe- 
marle; the former about seventy-five miles long, and 
fifteen to twenty-five miles wide; the latter in length 
about fifty, and in breadth from five to fifteen miles. 
These sounds abound in fish of the finest varieties, but 
the principal fishing stations are in Albemarle sound. 
The volume of water poured in at the head of this sound 
by the Roanoke and Chowan rivers renders its waters 
fresh, except at its eastern limit. Here the migratory 
fishes — especially the herring, shad and rock (bass) — 



GENERAL SKETOH. 19 

repair at the spawning season in such numbers as to rank 
it among the best fishing grounds on the Atlantic coast. 
The business is conducted with an enterprise, system and 
outlay of capital proportioned to its magnitude. The 
seines are from a mile to a mile and a quarter long, and 
are carried out and drawn in by steam power. From 
eighty to a hundred thousand and sometimes two hun- 
dred thousand and more are caught at a single haul. 
The shad and rock are packed in ice and exported to 
the Northern cities. The herring are cured in salt and 
stored in barrels for the home and distant markets. 
Along the southern coast of the State other varieties of 
fish are taken in great quantities. The mackerel, the 
mullet, the sheepshead, the trout, the blue fish and pig 
fish are among those most esteemed for their flavor. All 
kinds of shell fish are abundant and fine. 

The sounds are the resort also of vast quantities of 
water fowl, notably ducks and geese; but it is in Curri- 
tuck sound that they are found in greatest quantity. 
A number of small islands dot the shallow waters of 
the eastern side of this sound, where the wild celery and 
many kinds of grasses flourish in profusion. These are 
the favorite haunts of the mallard, red-head and canvas- 
back ducks. They frequent these island and shallow 
waters in incredible numbers. When feeding they cover 
this part of the sound for miles; when they take wing 
they present the appearance of a vast black cloud. 
Hunting these fowls (which command a high price) 
gives profitable employment to many people. This 



20 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

region is the paradise of the amateur sportsman, and 
clubs of Northern gentlemen have lodges there, to which 
they regularly repair at the proper season for hunting. 

The inlets connecting the sounds with the ocean have 
shifted very much since the country was first settled. 
Some that were navigable for vessels of considerable 
size have closed; and those that remain are navigable 
for vessels of slight burden only. The effects of these 
changes operated formerly as a great restriction upon 
the commerce of the northern half of our coast. These 
obstructions have at length given way before the spirit of 
enterprise and the progress of invention. A canal now 
connects the waters of Albemarle sound with Chesapeake 
bay, and steamers ply to every point from Newbern to 
Norfolk. This region of country, though once locked 
up, is now fully laid open to commerce; few indeed pos- 
sess such ample facilities for transportation. In addi- 
tion to this line of steamers there is another by the 
Chowan and Black water rivers, connecting with the Sea- 
board and Norfolk railroad. Lastly, a line of railway 
has been constructed from Edenton to Norfolk. 

The Banks, as has been said, girdle the whole coast of 
the State, a distance of over three hundred miles. 
Though they shoot out from the northern extremity as 
a long narrow peninsula, they are broken in their course 
into a number of islands. They vary in breadth from 
one huudred yards to two miles, and in height from a 
few feet above the tide-level to twenty-five or thirty feet. 
Consisting as they do of pure sand, there is little eulti- 



GENERAL SKETCH. 21 

vatiou of any sort. A few stunted trees are scattered 
over the more elevated parts, and occasionally, as at a 
point a few miles north of Nag's Head, there are for- 
ests of long-leaf pine covering hundreds of acres that 
compare in size and height with any on the main-land. 
The subsistence of the inhabitants is generally derived 
from fishing, in which they are bold and expert. They 
do not shrink from an encounter with the whale. In 
the early history of the State its coast was noted as one 
of the resorts of the whale. Lawson, who, lived many 
years in the eastern part of the State, in the early part 
of the last century, says: " Whales are very numerous on 
the coast of North Carolina." A few still visit it, and 
a season rarely passes without one or more being har- 
pooned by the fishermen of Shackleford's JBanks. 

The possessions of these islanders consist mainly of 
flocks and herds. Some proprietors own several hun- 
dred head of sheep and large numbers of horned cattle. 
Many own large herds of horses which roam the sands 
in a state almost as wild as on the prairies of the West. 
The latter receive little attention from the owners except 
at the "penning season," when they are driven together 
and branded with the mark of the proprietor. Like 
the other animals they forage at will upon the coarse 
though abundant grasses of the salt marshes. It is a 
breed of great spirit and bottom. Many of them are 
finely formed, and on account of their docility when 
well broken, and their powers of endurance, high prices 
are paid for them. 



22 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Formerly, when commerce was carried on exclusively 
in sailing vessels, this coast was justly dreaded, for ship- 
wrecks were frequent. Large profits were then occa- 
sionally realized by these islanders, though at great per- 
sonal risk, in the way of salvage on goods rescued from 
the sea. But the introduction of steam vessels, and the 
establishment of signal stations, have rendered naviga- 
tion so safe that a shipwreck is rarely heard of. 



Middle and Piedmont Section. 



The Middle Section extends from the western boun- 
dary of the tertiary formation or Eastern Section to the 
Blue Ridge mountains, the western half of which, as 
already said, is distinguished as the Piedmont Section. 
It comprises nearly one-half of the territory of the State. 

In passing from the Eastern to the Middle Section 
there is a marked change in the general aspect of the 
country in its natural and cultivated productions, and in 
other respects. The great Atlantic plain is left behind, 
which, on account of the uniformity of its surface, par- 
takes of monotony, even where most fertile. Here, on the 
contrary, is an endless succession of hills and dales. Every 
step brings to view some new charm in the landscape — 
some new arrangement of the rounded hills, some new 
grouping of the tracts of forest which still cover so large a 
part of the country. The hills, indeed, in their gracefully 



GENERAL SKETCH. 23 

curving outlines, present lines of beauty with which the 
eye of taste is never satiated. These are attractions 
which depend upon permanent features of the landscape, 
and which, though infinitely heightened in their effects 
by the verdure of Spring and Summer, are only brought 
into fuller relief by the nakedness of Winter. The vari- 
ations of surface, though less defined at first, become 
more marked towards the west, and towards the Blue 
Ridge the country assumes a bold and even rugged 
aspect. 

The long-leaf pine, so conspicuous in the Eastern Sec- 
tion disappears, and is replaced by all that range of for- 
est growth for which the State is so noted — a range in 
which there is scarce a tree that belongs to the temper- 
ate zone proper that is not only found, but found in 
abundance. H the two sections are viewed at the season 
when the crops are growing, the contrast is striking. 
Along with the long-leaf pine, the cotton crop, except 
on the eastern and southern border, has nearly disap- 
peared also. Wheat, corn, sorghum, oats, buckwheat, 
barley and tobacco occupy the cultivated fields. In the 
Eastern Section hay and pasture crops have not been 
enough cultivated to impart any distinguishing aspect to 
the country. In the Middle Section clover and other 
grasses clothe the hills more or less; the larger bottoms 
are laid down in meadows; and commonly the narrow 
flats between the hills, made by the little branches or 
rivulets, are sown in grass and present belts of richest 
verdure. The change is seen in the streams: those of the 



24 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

low-land are dyed to a sable hue by decaying vegetation 
with which the soil there is charged ; those of this section 
are as clear and pure as they flowed from their fountains, 
mirroring in their pools and longer reaches every object 
on their banks. A difference in the Summer and Autumn 
is felt in the air of the two sections. That of the low- 
lands, though kindly and not uuhealthy, disposes some- 
what to lassitude and inaction at particular seasons; that 
of this section is invigorating and wholesome (being 
kept in perpetual motion at that season by gentle gales), 
and favors active exertion. 

The hand of improvement is more visible in this than 
in any section in the State. This is chiefly due to two 
causes: 1st, Agriculture here was less dependent upon 
slave labor than in the Eastern Section. The number 
of slaves was less, and in many communities within its 
limits — as those made up of the Society of Friends, or 
Quakers — there were none. Hence agricultural indus- 
tries which were prostrated there by the shock of the 
civil war — a shock from which it did not recover before 
years had elapsed — here sustained only a partial dis- 
turbance, and that for no long period. 

2d. No part of this section was occupied for any 
length of time by hostile troops, and at the end of the 
war its means of subsistence were comparatively un- 
drainecl. A basis was left for the resumption of indus- 
tries. To this is to be added another advantage, the 
facility with which lands of the best class could be 
rented after the break up of the old plantation system. 



GENERAL SKETCH. 25 

All the large proprietors after the loss of their slaves 
had more land than they could cultivate; the only use 
they could make of it was to let it to rent. To young 
and energetic men a golden opportunity was thus offered. 
They went to work stimulated by the desire to redeem 
the time lost during their service in the army, and by 
the hope of acquiring lands of their own. But every 
one had lost heavily; the impulse to repair those losses 
was universal; labor, from the predominance of the 
white race here, was not greatly inadequate to the 
demand; hence every kind of business was pressed on 
with spirit and zeal. The effect in a few years was to 
obliterate all the deeper traces of the war; then the work 
of improvement began, and has been steadily carried on. 
This section is now dotted over with thriving villages 
and towns. The homes everywhere indicate a high 
degree of thrift and comfort; an unusual proportion are 
built in modern style and tastefully painted. Nestled 
amidst yards and gardens, enclosed with neat painted 
palings, flanked with orchards of fruit trees, in which a 
space is generally allotted to choice grape vines, they 
give abundant proof of ease, plenty, and, in many 
instances, of no small degree of luxury. 

Iu this section nature has distributed her blessings 
with a bounteous hand. Its salubrity, the variety and 
value of its productions, its mineral wealth, its manu- 
facturing facilities, mark it out as one of the most 
desirable abodes for man, and a future centre of great 
wealth and population. Nowhere do the conditions 



26 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

which are friendly to health, to the finest physical 
development, to the successful exertion of industries of 
every kind, and to rational enjoyment, exist in greater 
abundance than here. Those bounties are visible only 
in part. The earth is stored with coal, iron, gold and 
other metals, ores and minerals. Explorations have 
demonstrated that these exist in such quantity that 
localities in this section will become the seats of mining 
and manufacturing industries on a large scale when 
population and capital shall favor their full develop- 
ment. 

Of the extent of these ores, metals and minerals full 
information will be given hereafter in the Hand-Book. 

The descent of the slope formed by the surface of the 
State is greatest in this section; through its entire extent, 
from one thousand to twelve hundred feet. The rivers 
in their eastward flow down this descent make their way 
with a lively current varied with long reaches of com- 
paratively tranquil water. Oftentimes they force their 
way through huge barriers of primitive rock and there 
occur rapids and falls which afford the finest water 
powers. 

The force developed by the fali of these rivers in 
their course to the sea aggregates — according to Prof. 
Kerr, late State Geologist of North Carolina — more 
than three million horse-jjowers; an amount exceeding 
that of all the steam engines of Great Britain or the 
United States. 

These have been utilized to some extent by the erec- 
tion of grist and flouring mills in every neighborhood, 



GENERAL SKETCH. 27 

and cotton and woollen mills on some of the rivers. 
Within the last few years the number of cotton mills 
has largely increased. Those erected lately are spacious 
buildings, and equipped with the best machinery. 
Within the same period all or nearly all of the older 
ones have been enlarged, and new machinery put in. 
The day is not distant when this branch of industry will 
attain a great development here. In no other form 
have investments paid heavier dividends. The fact 
begins to be more and more recognized that within the 
cotton States there are advantages for the manufacture 
of that staple that cannot be found elsewhere. Here the 
cotton is at the door of the manufacturer, and the prime 
cost of the material is therefore less. Wages are less 
here than in the Northern States, and a lower rate of 
wages here affords a more comfortable living than a 
higher rate there; for the necessaries of life are cheaper, 
and less of food, clothing and fuel are required. Less 
fuel, too, is required for heating the mill in Winter. 
The laborer can make substantial additions to his means 
of subsistence from his garden, which is always allotted 
here to the head of the family. Here there is no 
obstruction to machinery from ice in Winter, and no 
greater suspension of work from drought in Summer; 
for our rivers are as long as those of New England and 
have as many tributaries. The original cost of the site 
and of the building here is very much less than the 
same cost there. The force of these reasons cannot be 
long resisted. 



28 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Woollen mills also have been established in this sec- 
tion, and though this branch of manufacture is yet in its 
infancy, the success which has attended the experiments 
that have been made, cannot fail to invite investments 
in this direction. Sheep husbandry cannot be said to 
have made even a beginning in this State. Sheep are a 
part of the domestic animals on every farm, but are 
reared for domestic supplies of meat and wool; the sur- 
plus only is sold. Yet the supply of wool would suffice 
for scores of such factories as are here. No pursuit 
would pay better than sheep husbandry in this State. 
The natural pasturage of the Mountain Section cannot 
be surpassed, particularly in the northwestern part of the 
State. Some of the most valued cultivated grasses are 
indigenous there, and all flourish with the greatest lux- 
uriance. The quality of the goods turned out from the 
woollen mills of Salem, Bethania and El kin show that 
the wool is adapted to the finest fabrics. 

The wide range of the forest trees of North Carolina 
long since attracted the attention of botanists. It in- 
cludes all those employed in the useful and many of 
those employed in the ornamental arts. Indeed, nearly 
all the species found in the United States, east of the 
Rocky Mountains, are found in North Carolina. Her 
wealth in this respect will be appreciated when the fact 
mentioned by that eminent botanist, Dr. Curtis, i.s 
brought to mind, that there are more species of oaks in 
North Carolina than in all of the States north of it, and 
only one less than in all of the Southern States east of 



GENERAL SKETCH. 29 

the Mississippi. For the range of her forests the reader 
is referred to the lists embraced in the Hand-Book. Those 
only are referred to here the timber of which, or their 
manufactured products, are exported from this section. 

Of these the white oak (Quercus alba) is the most 
prominent, as being in most general use and most ex- 
tensively serviceable. It is found from the coast to the 
mountains, but it is most abundant in the Middle Sec- 
tion. It is valuable for frame houses, for mills and 
dams, vehicles, agricultural implements, cooper's ware, 
ship building, and for all purposes where strength and 
durability are required. Tanners prefer the bark of 
this species of oak for preparing leather for saddles and 
other similar objects. It rises to the height of seventy 
or eighty feet, with a diameter of two to three feet. 

The white hickory (Carya tomentosa), too, is found in 
the forests from the coast to the mountains; but that of 
the Middle Section for weight, tenacity, strength, and 
for its capacity for receiving a high polish, is pronounced 
by experts to be superior to any in the world. It is 
used for mill cogs, screws of presses, handspikes, cap- 
stan bars, bows, hoops, spokes and handles of tools. 
There are large establishments here for the manufacture 
of spokes, rims and handles, which are sent everywhere. 
The mature tree is about sixty feet high and eighteen or 
twenty inches in diameter. 

The white ash (Fraxinus Americana) is found in both 
the Mountain and Middle Sections, but is manufactured 
for exportation chiefly in the latter. It furnishes the 



30 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

common timber used in light carriages, for the shafts, 
frames, and parts of the wheels. Flat hoops, boxes, 
and the handles of many instruments are made of it. 
It is the only material of oars, blocks of pullies, cleats, 
and similar naval implements, in places where it can be 
obtained. It is fifty to seventy feet high, and two to 
three feet through. 

The elm (TJlmus Americana), is found in each section, 
though most abundantly in the Middle. For ship blocks 
it is of the highest value; for hubs of wagon wheels it 
is preferred to any timber. It is from thirty to fifty 
feet high, and twelve to eighteen inches through. 

The maple {Acer saccharinum), is found throughout 
the State, but from its superior facilities for transporta- 
tion, the timber is chiefly obtained in this section. The 
wood in old trunks is full of minute irregularities, like 
knots. These, if cut in one direction, exhibit a spotted 
surface, to which the name of bird's eye maple is given; 
while if cut in another direction, they produce a wavy 
or shaded surface, called curly maple. It. is used in 
cabinet work, particularly inlaying mahogany. The 
tree attains a height of fifty to eighty feet, and a diame- 
ter of two to three feet. 

The beech (Fagus ferruginea), is common here, and 
grows luxuriantly; but is most abundant in the Moun- 
tain Section, and will be reserved for particular notice 
under that head. 

The tulip (Liriodendron tulipifera) tree, or poplar — 
the wood of which is so highly esteemed for^ carving 



GENERAL SKETCH. 31 

and ornamental work, for some kinds of furniture, and 
for coach panels — is native to all parts of the State, but 
is not so common in the lower section as the others. It 
is mentioned here because its lumber is chiefly cut aud 
prepared in this section. It will claim consideration 
again under the head of Mountain Section. 

The persimmon (Diospyros Virginiana), is found in 
all parts of the State; but it is here only that it is ob- 
tained to any considerable extent. It is employed for 
screws and many other implements. It is usually from 
thirty to forty feet high, with a diameter of eighteen to 
twenty inches. 

The black walnut (Juglans nigra), is most abundant in 
this section. It is used for furniture, for gun-stocks, 
for hubs, and in house and ship building. It is a ma- 
jestic tree, and grows to exceptional size in the Moun- 
tain Section, under which head it will be referred to 
again. 

The yelloiv pine (Pinus mitis), is sparingly found in 
the Eastern Section, but enters largely into the compo- 
sition of the upland forest through the Middle and 
Mountain Sections. Its uses are so familiar and univer- 
sal as to need no enumeration. It is from forty to sixty 
feet high, with a circumference of four or five, and even 
six feet. 

The mulberry (Morus rubra) tree, though not valued 
for its timber, is so important in another respect as to 
deserve mention. It grows in all parts of the State, but 
is least abundant in the lower section. In the Middle 



32 HAND-BOOK OP NORTH CAROLINA. 

Section it occurs so commonly that nature may be said 
to have laid the broadest foundation for the cultivation 
of silk there. 

This does not exhaust the list, but it will serve to give 
a clearer idea of the timber resources of this section. 
But, though the materials for this branch of manufac- 
turing abound here, a beginning only has been made. 
There are establishments for making wagons and pleas- 
ure vehicles, excellent both for material and workman- 
ship; but great numbers of these are still brought in 
from other States. One branch of wood manufacture is 
prosecuted here with spirit and success — that of spokes 
and rims for carriages, and bobbins and similar imple- 
ments used with the machinery of cotton and woollen 
mills. These are sent off in great quantities to distant 
parts of the United States, and to Europe and Australia. 

The branch of manufacture which has been most fully 
developed here is that of tobacco. The kind of tobacco 
chiefly used in these factories is known as the golden leaf. 
It is a unique product which originated in this section, 
and is still mainly grown here; though its cultivation 
has been widely extended into the mountain section. 
The effects of this industry have been striking. Vil- 
lages and towns have grown up at short intervals within 
a few years on the principal lines of railroad, where the 
large warehouses and factories, the handsome churches, 
school-houses, residences and stores give evidence of high 
prosperity. In some of these towns almost the whole 
business consists in prizing and manufacturing this com- 



GENERAL SKETCH. 33 

modity into different forms for the markets of the world. 
Of the productions of the State, none are manufactured 
at homo to the same extent as tobacco. The fruits of it 
in the general prosperity which the factories have diffused 
around them give proof of what the State will be when 
its various commodities shall be even partially manufac- 
tured within its limits. 

The cultivation of fruits of all kinds has been long 
pursued in this section with skill, energy and judgment. 
Its wonderful adaptation for fruits was early discovered, 
and many nurseries were established for rearing the 
young trees. Here the native fruits were perfected, 
choice foreign kinds introduced, and new kinds origi- 
nated. The enterprise of the nurserymen has planted 
the finest fruit trees — as the apple, the peach, the pear, 
the apricot and the cherry — about every dwelling in this 
section, and widely beyond it. Nor have the garden 
fruits — as the fig, the currant, the raspberry and the like 
— received less attention. The supply of every kind for 
home consumption is unlimited — that of peaches and 
apples, such that large quantities are fed to hogs. Here, 
too, as in the Eastern Section, the grape is an object of 
special culture. They are grown for the table at home, 
and for the market. There are in this section several 
vineyards, some of which have an established reputation 
for their wines and brandies. Grapes are, however, 
grown mainly for the market. The genial soil and cli- 
mate of this State enables the growers to put this and 
other fruits in the Northern markets some weeks in ad- 



34 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

vance of the same fruits grown there, and at a season 
when the appetite for fresh fruits has been whetted by 
abstinence, and when they bring the highest price. When 
dried, also, they are a staple article of export. The pro- 
cess of drying was formerly effected entirely by the heat of 
the sun. This process is still partially in use, but within 
the last two or three years has been, in a great measure, 
superseded by mechanical appliances. Wild berries, 
whose bushes spring spontaneously and cover every 
cleared spot not in cultivation, have given rise to an im- 
portant industry here. The business of gathering and 
drying blackberries gives employment to many persons, 
especially children, whose services would not be availa- 
ble on the farm. They are shipped in quantities incon- 
ceivable by those unacquainted with this branch of trade. 
The demand for them is large and increasing, and the 
incomes derived from this source are in the aggregate 
very considerable. 

This section supplies with free hand much in the way 
of comfort and profit. Wheat, oats, &c, are cultivated 
to such extent that the country teems with small game, 
especially partridges. Every farmer can, with his net, 
with little loss of time, have his table supplied with this 
most delicate of luxuries, and they offer boundless sport 
to the lovers of such amusements. They are made a 
considerable article of trade. The quantity sent to the city 
markets amounts to tons. The rabbit, which abounds 
here, is also an article of trade as game, and this animal, 
together with the otter, minx and raccoon, furnish no 
inconsiderable amount of furs. 



GENERAL SKETCH. 35 

The different areas over which the cultivated crops of 
this section grow are well defined. Tobacco is the staple 
crop in the northern counties, though the cereals enter 
into the rotation; in the central counties the cereals are 
the principal crops; in the southern counties cotton is 
the staple crop, but in all of them the cereals are also cul- 
tivated. 

"It is worthy of note," says Prof. Kerr, in his Geol- 
ogy of North Carolina, "that one of the two tracts in 
the whole territory of the United States, which are abso- 
lutely or almost free from tlfat scourge of rigorous and 
extreme climates, pulmonary consumption, is located by 
these census maps" — the census maps of 1870 — "along 
the plateau east of the Blue Ridge in North Carolina. 
One of the causes is doubtless the fact that this region is 
sheltered by the proximity of the Blue Ridge, which here 
reaches its extreme altitude, and stands as a protecting 
wall against the two prevalent and weather-controlling 
winds from the interior, those from the southwest and 
northwest, and indeed from the north as well." 

There are many watering places in this section which 
have long been favorite resorts for health and recreation. 



Western Section. 



The Western Section is commonly called the Mountain 
Section, a name which on account of its prominent phy- 
sical features is strictly applicable. It lies enclosed be- 



36 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

tween the Smoky range on the west, and the Blue Ridge 
on the east; on the north and south it extends to the 
Virginia and South Carolina lines. In form it resembles 
an ellipse. Its width is from twenty-five to fifty miles; its 
length is about one hundred and fifty miles. It consists of 
a lofty plateau, the general level of which is from two to 
two thousand -seven hundred feet above the level of the 
sea. This plateau forms a base, upon which is clustered 
together a great number of the loftiest mountains to be 
found in the Uuited States east of the Rocky Moun- 
tains. The mountains which reach a height of 6,000 
feet can be counted by scores; the number of those of 
an elevation but little inferior is almost countless. 

On the eastern side of the plateau the mountains are 
massed together without any of that orderly arrange- 
ment common to most mountain systems. They are 
scattered, indeed, in wild disorder. On the western 
side a definite arrangement may be observed. The 
Watauga, the Nolechucky, the French Broad, the Big 
Pigeon and the Hiwassee flow nearly at right- angles to 
and through the Smoky range. Between each of these 
rivers runs a chain of mountains parallel to them, and 
forming the divide between them. The mountains are 
clothed, with few exceptions, with trees to their tops. 
The exceptions mark a singular caprice of nature. 
Through these chains of mountains are found many 
upon whose broad summits not a tree is to be seen, and 
hence designated as Balds. They are covered to the 
height of a horse's knee with grasses that afford the 
finest pasturage. 



GENERAL SKETCH. 37 

The view from these lofty summits is inconceivably 
grand and beautiful. There is little of sternness; nothing 
of desolation in anything that meets the eye. Nature 
presents herself in her kindlier mood. The vast moun- 
tains loom up on every hand, but they are clothed with 
vegetation from base to summit. The element of color 
is not wanting. It is dispensed indeed with liberal 
hand. The lighter hues of the leaves of deciduous 
trees about the base and sides of the mountains are suc- 
ceeded by the darker foliage of the pine and firin the upper 
tiers, and the sombre foliage of the balsam on the high- 
est tiers. Throughout the Fall, when the color of the 
trees is constantly changing, the different hues of the 
almost endless variety of the forest growth array the 
mountains in a glory that is indescribable. The view 
from. one of these summits, at one season only, stirred 
the mind of Dr. Mitchell — a devotee of science and lit- 
tle given to emotion — to a burst of poetic expression, as 
when he speaks of the "green ocean of mountains raised 
in tremendous billows immediately around," referring 
to the view from the top of the Roan. This section is 
a land where all the elements of beauty ancl grandeur 
are everywhere combined in a w 7 ay to astonish and de- 
light the beholder. 

The forests of this section include most of the trees 
of the Middle Section, and many that belong to high 
Alpine latitudes — the same timber trees, and some that 
are peculiar to this section. The wild cherry (Primus 
serotina) is found in each section, but here only does it 



38 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

acquire its full dimensions, or occur in quantity. On 
the rich and cool declivities of the mountains it attains 
a height of from sixty to eighty feet, and a diameter of 
two to three feet. 

The white pine (Pinus strobus), is found in this section 
of the State, and in this only. It forms peculiar and 
handsome forests in the rich elevated valleys of Ashe 
and Yancey. It is from sixty to seventy feet high, with 
a proportional diameter. 

The cucumber tree (Magnolia acuminata), in this State 
grows only on the mountains, particularly of Ashe, 
Yancey and Burke, in moist, fertile soils of declivities 
and on the banks of torrents. It is from sixty to eighty 
feet high, and from four to five feet in diameter. 

The hemlock (Abies canadensis), is also confined to 
this section. It grows on the borders of torrents and 
cold swamps, but extends down to the very base of the 
mountains. The bark is extensively and almost exclu- 
sively used for tanning in New England. Though in- 
ferior to oak bark, it is said that the two united are 
preferable to either alone. 

The black birch (Betula lento), or mountain mahog- 
any, is found in this State only in the Mountain Sec- 
tion. It affords a firm, compact, dark-colored wood, 
much valued for furniture, and is sometimes used for 
screws and implements requiring strength. 

The white walnut (Juglans cinerea), used in light cab- 
inet work and in the hubs of carriages, is found upon 
bottom land and river banks in the valleys of the 



GENERAL SKETCH. 39 

mountains. It attains a height of fifty feet, with a 
diameter of three feet or more. 

The chestnut (Castanea vesca), though found sparingly 
in the Middle Section, is confined chiefly to the moun- 
tains, from Ashe to Cherokee. It is invaluable for fenc- 
ing; the rails split out straight and easily, and are said 
to last fifty years. It is also used for shingles and for 
cooperage. Its usual height is from fifty to seventy feet, 
and stocks are sometimes met with which, at six feet 
from the ground, measure fifteen or sixteen feet in cir- 
cumference. 

The beech (Fagus ferruginea), though found in the 
Middle Section, occurs here in greatest abundance, and 
here only attains its proper size. It rises from fifty to 
eighty, and even one hundred feet, with a diameter of 
two and three feet. It is used for plane stocks, lasts, 
card-backs and the handles of mechanical instruments. 

The locust (Robinia pseudacacia), extends along the 
mountains, from the northern to the southern boundary 
of the State. In civil architecture this timber is not 
extensively used in buildings, but is employed for rail- 
road ties and sleepers when it can be had. In naval 
architecture it is used to as great an extent as the supply 
will admit. It is also largely used by turners instead of 
box 

The linn or lime tree (Tilia Americana), so well adapted 
for turners' work and so extensively used for the manu- 
facture of wooden- ware, is common in this section. It 
seldom exceeds forty feet in height, with a diameter of 
twelve or eighteen inches. 



40 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

In respect to those timber trees found here, in common 
with the other sections, the Mountain Section has the ad- 
vantage of possessing an unbroken forest. In compari- 
son with the extent of forest lands, the clearings here 
are mere patches. 

There is little hazard in saying that there is nowhere 
in any of the States an equal area of land covered with 
timber trees of such various kinds, and of such value. 
The walnut, tulip trees (poplars), and oaks attain a size 
that would hardly be credited by one who had not seen 
them. The preservation of this magnificent forest is due 
to the fact that it has hitherto been inaccessible to trans- 
portation. Within the past few years much of it has 
been brought into connection with the markets of the 
world. One railroad line passes entirely through this 
section, and another branching off at Asheville and lead- 
ing to the extreme southwest of the State, is in great part 
completed. Into the northwestern part of the State 
also a railroad has been completed and others projected, 
of which two are partially graded. 

The cultivated productions of this section are the same 
with those of the Middle Section, cotton and rice excepted. 
Its garden vegetables are the same, but the cabbage and 
the Irish potato grow here to a degree of perfection that 
cannot be excelled anywhere. Among the fruits, its 
apples are noted for size and flavor. Peaches and grapes 
grow well generally; but, for their highest perfection, 
nature has made provisions by a suspension to some ex- 
tent of her ordinary laws. Throughout the mountains, 



(JUNERAJ, SKETCH. 41 

in certain localities and at certain elevations, there are 
horizontal belts where frost is never known. Such local- 
ities are found not only in this section, but in the South 
mountains and in the Brushy range. Thev constitute 
an unfailing source of supply of these fruits, and in pro- 
cess of time will be occupied by establishments for can- 
ning fruits for the markets of the world. 

The climate of this section differs less from that of the 
Middle Section than would be inferred from its higher 
altitude. The difference is more perceptible in Summer 
than in Winter. In the former season, its cool and 
bracing air, together with its varied scenery, its mineral 
waters — sulphur, chalybeate and thermal — made this 
section one of the favorite resorts of the people of the 
South and Southwest, when it could only be reached by 
private conveyances. Since it has teen penetrated by 
railroads, the influx of health and pleasure seekers has 
increased an hundred fold, and in future will add very 
largely to its resources; 

It is the resort, too, of people from the far North in 
Winter. It is protected by the range of mountains which 
form its boundaries from all the cold winds — the north- 
east, north and northwest. The degree of cold is there- 
fore temperate. A pinching season may come at long 
intervals; it is, however, of short duration, being quickly 
succeeded by weather of a moderate temperature. Such 
seasons are not unwelcome by way of contrast. The 
quantity of snow that falls here very little exceeds that 
of the Middle Section. Even in the high mountain 



42 HAND-BOOK OF NOETH CAEOLINA. 

ranges, cattle are excluded from pasturage by the snow 
only once in about seven years. 

The soils of the basins of the great rivers of this sec- 
tion, and its mountain valleys, are noted for their fertility. 
The capacity for the production of cereals and hay grasses 
is equal to those of any lands. As might be inferred 
from the heavy forest growth with which the entire sur- 
face is covered, the mountain sides are susceptible of 
profitable cultivation up to their summits. 

Among the valleys most noted for their beauty and 
extent are the Upper French Broad and Mills river val- 
leys, of Henderson and Transylvania; the Swannanoa, 
in Buncombe; the Pigeon river, Richland and Jonathan's 
creek flat lands, in Haywood; those of the Valley river 
and Hiwassee, in Cherokee; and portions of the Upper 
Linville, in Mitchell. 

The entire transmontane country is well adapted to stock 
raising. The cultivated grasses flourish everywhere with 
even ordinary care. But it is in the northwestern coun- 
ties — particularly in the counties of Ashe, Al leghany, Wa- 
tauga, Mitchell, Yancey, that all the conditions are found 
necessary for its perfect success. The soil throughout 
these counties is a deep rich loam, up to the summits of 
the mountains. The whole country is covered with a dense 
vegetation, amongst which will be found some of the 
largest timber in the United States, and as yet the for- 
ests are comparatively unbroken, because they have been 
inaccessible to market. The clearing of the timber is a 
work of some difficulty, but when that is done the labor 



GENERAL SKETCH. 43 

of the farmer is rewarded with the richest crops. After 
two or three crops are taken off, the land, if suffered to 
lie at rest, springs up spontaneously in timothy, herds 
grass, and other rich pasture grasses; and once estab- 
lished, the grass perpetuates itself upon the land. Nor 
is an entire clearing necessary to establish the land in 
grass. If the undergrowth is removed, the trees 
thinned out, and the surface stirred and'sown in orchard 
grass (Cocks foot), it flourishes luxuriantly, even while 
the forest trees are left standing. 

Its capacity as a grazing country has long been known. 
But formerly the cattle were left to the resources of 
nature, which, indeed, in such a country were abundant 
and rich. " Horses and horned cattle," says General Cling- 
man in one of his publications, "are usually driven out 
into the mountains about the first of April and brought 
back in November. Within six weeks after they have 
thus been put into the range, they become fat and sleek. 
There are, however, on the top and along the sides of 
the higher mountains ever-green and winter grasses on 
which horses and horned cattle live well through the 
entire Winter. Such animals are often foaled and reared 
there until fit for market, without ever seeing a cultiva- 
ted plantation." Of late, attention has been turned to 
the breeding of fine stock, and some herds of cattle and 
flocks of sheep are found there which will compare not 
unfavorably with those of any country. This country 
is already penetrated by one railroad, and others are in 
course of construction. When fairly laid open to rail- 



44 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

road communication, it will offer — besides its rich min- 
ing interests and timbers — one of the finest fields for 
rattle and sheep breeding and for dairy products that the 
Union presents. 

Apart from its forests, nature has been prodigal to 
this section in shrubs and flowering plants. It has al- 
ways been a favorite resort of the botanists. It is a 
field that has been assiduously cultivated by many of 
the most distinguished professors of that science. It 
was from these mountains that Bartram, the Michaux — 
father and son — Fraser, Delile, Lyon, Nut tall, Yon 
Schweinitz, Mitchell, Gray and Curtis, drew much of the 
material of their valuable contribution to botanical science. 
It was here that some of the most beautiful flowers that 
adorn the gardens of Europe and of this country were 
first discovered. It still yields rare flowers to the ex- 
plorer, which though not conspicuous for their beauty, 
are deemed rare treasures by botanists. 

This section has also been one of the chief sources of 
supply of medicinal herbs. Immense quantities are 
gathered and shipped to the Northern cities and to Eu- 
rope. In travelling through the mountains bales of 
these herbs may be seen collected about the country 
stores as bales of cotton are seen in the Middle and 
Eastern Sections. Ginseng in great quantities is shipped 
to China. The trade in medicinal herbs has grown into 
a large business. 

The mineral wealth of this section is varied and 
abundant. These will be simply mentioned here, as each 



GENERAL SKETCH. 45 

will' form, in the Hand-Book, the subject of a sepa- 
rate notice. Marbles of the finest quality and of vari- 
ous colors compose whole mountains, so to speak, in 
Macon and Cherokee. 

Corundum abounds in Macon, Clay and many other 
counties. Mica is abundant in Mitchell and Yancey, 
and those counties yield a large part of the world's sup- 
ply. The largest and finest sheets of it seen at the 
World's Fair at Vienna were from the Ray Mine in 
Yancey. 

This section is rich in iron ores of the best grade. 
That of Cranberry possesses such excellence for making 
iron for special purposes — steam boilers for example, 
and steel of the finest quality, such as is adapted to 
making surgical instruments and the like — that a rail- 
road forty miles long has been constructed through one 
of the most rugged parts of the mountain territory to 
reach it. Copper also is prominent among the metals 
of this region. The most noted mine is that of Ore 
Knob, in Ashe. It has been extensively developed, and 
the business in all its branches is conducted with intelli- 
gence, skill and energy. 

The effect of these mining enterprises upon the pros- 
perity of this section has been marked. Labor has 
found profitable employment, a home market has been 
furnished to the farmer, and there has been a general 
appreciation of property of every kind. 

The last three years have beeu remarkable for the 
success with which the difficulties presented by the want 



46 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

of transportation in this State have been grappled with 
and overcome. These achievements at once great and 
beneficent, will make this period a memorable one in 
the history of the State. Railroads are now entering 
the northwestern part of the State in several directions. 
The completion and connection of these, and the open- 
ing up of this region, so rich in elements of undeveloped 
wealth, is now regarded as the first and most imperative 
duty of the statesmen of North Carolina. 



Geological Formations. 



The soils of the Middle and Mountain Sections may 
be treated of in one view, since they owe their origin to 
the same cause. The rocks of this part of the State 
were brought into the position they now occupy at an 
early period of the earth's history; the soils that have 
been formed upon them have resulted from their disin- 
tegration and decay. No stratum of foreign matter 
has been brought in from abroad in either of these sec- 
tions, that which has been caused by rain water rushing 
down the sides of hills and flowing along the beds of 
streams alone excepted. The rocks are chiefly of the 
primitive formation, granites, schists, slates, &c. The soils 
vary in chemical composition and fertility, according to 
the character of the rocks from which they are derived. 
The rocks range with the sea-shore and the mountain 



GENERAL SKETCH. 47 

chains, and run uniformly in a direction from northeast 
to southwest. A brief notice of the principal forma- 
tions of rocks is here subjoined, and the characters of 
the soils of each discriminated in a general way. 

West of the Eastern Section — in our early geological 
reports termed Tertiary , and by the later distinguished 
as the Quaternary — there occurs, in the counties of 
Northampton, Halifax, Johnston, Nash, Franklin, War- 
ren, Granville, Wake and Cumberland, a body of an- 
cient primitive rock largely covered by sand — Lau- 
rentian. Amongst these granite prevails more ex- 
tensively than any other, and when the tertiary sand is 
absent, there is fertile soil. 

The next formation of rocks going west is the sand- 
stones — Triassic. It commences in Granville, three or 
four miles southwest from Oxford, and passes through 
Orange and Wake, Chatham and Moore, Montgomery, 
Richmond and Anson ; but through a part of Moore, 
Montgomery and Richmond, it is covered by tertiary 
sand and clays. The principal constituent of this for- 
mation is a fine-grained, greenish or reddish sandstone, 
whose particles are connected together by a mixture of 
clay and oxide of iron. This produces by its decompo- 
sition a soil favorable to the growth of corn, oats, and 
especially sweet potatoes ; but is not so well adapted to 
that of wheat. 

The next formation is that of the transition and slate 
rocks — Huronian-Taconic. These occupy a large space 
in North Carolina. The principal body of these rocks 



48 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

traverses the Stale in a northeasterly and southwesterly 
direction immediately west of the great sandstone form- 
ation, occupying a breadth of about thirty miles. This 
formation includes the western part of Granville, the 
eastern part of Person, the central part of Orange, more 
than half of Chatham, nearly the whole of Randolph, 
the whole of Montgomery (what is called sandstone 
excepted), the whole of Stanly, the southern corner of 
Davidson and Rowan, the northwestern part of Anson, 
and southwestern part of Mecklenburg. The most 
common and abundant constituent of this formation is a 
compound of silica and alumina; a simple argelite or clay 
slate. This prevails especially near its two extremities; 
in Granville and Person on its northern, and in Anson, 
Mecklenburg and Stanly on its southern extremity. 
The slate undergoes decomposition slowly, and has not 
to this day covered itself with any great depth of earth. 
The soil is never of a very high degree of fertility, but 
with good cultivation excellent crops are obtained. The 
adaptability of these lands to the growth of fine yellow 
tobacco has very much enhanced their value. 

Throughout this body of slate, nowhere very thick, 
the granite occasionally penetrates and rises to the sur- 
face in tracts larger or smaller. In the southern part of 
Person, in Orange, Chatham, Randolph and Davidson, 
there are large patches of granite; and there results a 
much higher degree of fertility in the soil. 

West of the slate formation a vast body of granite 
rock traverses . the State including in its area a large 



GENERAL SKETCH. 49 

part of the counties of Person, Caswell, Orange, Guil- 
ford, Randolph, Davidson, Rowan, Cabarrus, Mecklen- 
burg, Lincoln, Iredell, Davie, Stokes and Rockingham 
— Laurentian. Throughout this region mica, one of 
the usual constituents of granite, is rare, and is replaced 
by chlorite or hornblende. The whole mass of rock, 
with a structure more or less granitic, has an earthy 
aspect indicating a recent origin. In consequence it decom- 
poses readily and into a fertile soil. Two of the three 
constituents of the granite — mica and felspar — furnish 
by its disintegration valuable ingredients to the soil. 
Both contain a considerable percentage of potash, though 
from the refractory nature of the mica, the potash, that 
element so essential to tobacco and the smaller cereals, is 
chiefly derived from the felspar. When chlorite replaces 
the mica it adds, upon the decomposition of the granite, 
another element, magnesia, its chief ingredient; an ele- 
ment indispensable to the healthy growth of the corn 
plant (maize). When mica is replaced by hornblende 
the latter supplies from its ingredients both magnesia 
and lime, and the presence of lime is a fundamental 
condition of fertility in all soils. And it is observable 
that of the region occupied by this formation — which is 
the great grain growing region of the State — the tracts 
where hornblende predominates in their composition, as 
in Cabarrus and Mecklenburg, are superior to the rest. 
West of this formation are the most ancient primitive 
rocks (Laurentian). Here every form of granite is 
met with. The ternary compound of quartz, felspar 
3 



50 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

and mica is most common, but with endless diversities, 
depending upon the proportion, color, size of the grains, 
and other character of the constituent minerals. There 
occur here also indefinite alternations of gneiss, horn- 
blende and micaceous schists, and occasionally chloritic 
and talcose slates. There is a great variety of soil, sub- 
ordinate, however, to that general uniformity which 
characterizes the same formation ; for most of the above 
rocks are essentially granitic. 

There is another body of transition slate in the west- 
ern and northwestern part of the State, adjacent to Ten- 
nessee (Huronian-Taeonic). It ranges along the western 
half of the border counties, but through Yancey and 
Mitchell shoots off a long projection, extending quite 
across the Blue Ridge to the Catawba, in Burke, and 
extends northerly and southerly, coincident in general 
direction and partly in position, with the Blue Ridge. 

The fertility of soils so far as it depends upon their 
own constitution and the character of the rocks from 
which they have been formed, is determined by other 
circumstances : 

1. Their composition ; as the principal rocks of the 
Middle and Mountain Sections are included under the 
term granite, this has been already explained. 

2. Their susceptibility of disintegration by the action 
of the elements. 

This depends very largely upon their position ; if the 
position is horizontal, they present their surfaces only to 
the disintegrating agents and long periods of time are 



GENERAL SKETCH. 51 

necessary to produce any effect. But the rocks of these 
sections have been upheaved by the forces of nature and 
laid upon their edges. They have thus been exposed 
to weathering influences to their fullest extent. The rain 
water could easily sink along the lines of stratification, 
and the air find ready access. The result has been a 
decomposition of the various strata to the depth of thirty, 
fifty, and even a hundred feet; as is proven in sinking 
wells, and illustrated in railroad cuttings. In this con- 
dition of things super-abundant moisture is absorbed, 
and the roots of trees and of vegetation range freely, 
and appropriate the lime, potash, soda and other mineral 
elements yielded by the decomposing rocks. 

3. The amount of decayed vegetable or animal mat- 
ter the soil may contain. 

The uncleared land here has stood in woods for a 
period of time it is impossible to reckon. Hence the 
soil is charged with vegetable matter from the annual 
fall of leaves, from the decay of successive generations 
of trees; and from the dying out of the annual native 
grasses. It has too received into its bosom the remains 
of the various forms of animal life which have peopled 
the country from the beginning of things. When the 
lands have been exhausted by cultivation, they quickly 
cover themselves with trees, shrubs and grasses, and the 
vegetable matter is soon replenished. 



PEOPLE OF THE STATE. 



Id all those things which stamp a high moral impress, 
no people can look back upon the past with more pride 
than those of North Carolina. From the foundation of 
the colony they have always been noted for those traits 
of character which give the greatest security to the State, 
to society and the family. They have always upheld 
the exercise of constitutional authority; the social duties 
they have always appreciated and observed; and by none 
have the domestic ties been more prized and cherished. 
Industry, frugality, and social order have marked every 
stage of their existence. Yet more, reverence for truth 
— especially revealed truth — and a sacred regard for 
business engagements have been ingrained in them. 

An observer would be at once struck by the homo- 
geneity of the people, and with the agreeable spectacle 
of two races living in harmony on the same soil and 
under the same laws. The first is rare in this age of 
migration, and particularly in this country, but is easily 
explained by the natural barriers to commerce which 
excluded variety of pursuits and made the State essenti- 
ally an agricultural community. The conservative dis- 
position and tastes which these modes of life nurtured 
repressed any effort to make known the resources of the 
State, and to attract settlers. But under the stimulus of 



PEOPLE OF THE STATE. 53 

our system of railroad transportation which has, in a 
measure, redressed our natural disadvantages; the new 
order of things, brought about by the war, and through 
the necessity of cultivating smaller farms and the conse- 
quent surplus of lands in market, a new spirit has char- 
acterized the people and turned a general desire toward 
immigration. 

In regard to the harmony existing between the two 
races, Gov. Jarvis, in his annual message to the Legis- 
lature, in 1881, said: 

"The two races are working together in peace and 
harmony, with increasing respect for each other. The 
colored population, I am glad to say, are becoming more 
industrious and thrifty. Many of them are property 
owners and tax payers. They seem to be learning the 
important lesson that they have nothing to rely upon 
but their own labor. I have tried, on every opportune 
occasion, to impress this lesson upon them, and to assure 
them of the sympathy and hearty co-operation of the 
white race in their efforts to make themselves good 
and useful citizens. They have held during the past 
two years, in the city of Raleigh, two industrial exhi- 
bitions that were exceedingly creditable to them. I 
attended both of these exhibitions, and made short 
addresses, and was glad to see that the efforts of the col- 
ored race in this direction found so much favor and 
encouragement among the whites. I regard it as an 
imperative duty from which the whites cannot escape, if 
they would, to see that in all things full and exact just- 
ice is done the blacks, and that they are not left alone to 



54 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

work out their own destiny. They are entitled, by 
many binding considerations, to receive aid and encour- 
agement from the whites, in their efforts to be better 
men and women, and I have no doubt will receive it." 

The events of the past five years have confirmed the 
justness of this official statement. 

The natural increase in our population has been 
greater than that from natural and foreign sources in 
most other States, and now ranks it as the fifteenth in 
the number of its inhabitants in the Union. It in- 
creased from 1,071,361 in 1870 to 1,399,750 in 1880, 
and can now be safely estimated at 1,500,000. Classi- 
fied by the census according to sex there were, in 1880, 
687,908 males, and 711,842 females; by race, 867,242 
whites, 531,267 colored people, 1,230 Indians and 1 
Japanese. The aggregate population consisted of 270,- 
994 families, living in 264,305 dwellings. The num- 
ber of persons to a square mile was 28.81, the number 
of families 5.58, dwellings 5.44. The number of acres 
of land to a person 22.21, to a family 114.73. The 
number of persons to a dwelling 5.30, to a family 5.17. 

The percentage of increase from 1870 to 1880 was 
30.06; of density of population 8 per cent. 

Distributed according to topography, 421,157 of the 
population live on the South Atlantic coast; 743,739 on 
the interior plateaus and table lands; and 233,654 in the 
Mountain districts. According to the same distribution 
203,771 colored people live on the South Atlantic 
coast ; 300,236 on the interior table lauds, and 27,270 
in the Mountain districts. 



GOVERNMENT AND TAXATION. 



The government of North Carolina is a pure democ- 
racy. It is based upon the will of the people as ex- 
pressed in the Constitution, an instrument framed by 
them in their sovereign capacity through delegates ap- 
pointed for that purpose. The will of the people of 
this and of each State, when thus expressed, and in 
conformity to the Constitution of the United States — 
for the will of the people of each State is subordinate 
to the collective will of the people of all the States— is 
the supreme law. The State Constitution thus made is 
the measure and test of all laws passed by the Legisla- 
ture, and these laws must stand or fall by their agree- 
ment or disagreement with it. 

The Constitution is a short instrument but wide in its 
scope and bearing. It contains a brief statement of the 
fundamental principles of civil and individual liberty, 
creates the different departments of government — Exec- 
utive, Legislative and Judicial — and prescribes the pow- 
ers of each; establishes educational, charitable and 
penal institutions; directs who shall be liable to duty 
in militia; and prescribes the rights of citizenship. 

The Legislature enacts laws. The Judiciary passes 
upon them when a question arises as to their constitution- 



56 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

ality, and expounds them when a question is presented as 
to their meaning. The execution of the law is entrusted 
to the Executive. The Executive in this State possesses 
no veto upon the acts of the Legislature. When the 
law is once made, his duty as that of every other citizen 
is obedience in his sphere. 

The rights of citizenship is the only point for con- 
sideration here ; and these depend upon age, residence 
and previous citizenship. 

A citizen of a foreign country can make himself a 
citizen here by becoming a resident; declaring before 
the proper tribunal his purpose to become a citizen ; and 
taking the prescribed oath of allegiance. 

A citizen of any other of the United States becomes 
a citizen here by changing his residence from that State 
to this. 

Ail persons who are born and continue to reside 
within this State are citizens thereof. 

The chief privilege of citizenship is suffrage. The 
Constitution ordains that, a every male person born in 
the United States, and every male person who has been 
naturalized, twenty-one years old, or upward, who shall 
have resided in this State twelve months next preceding 
the election, and ninety days in the county in which he 
offers to vote, shall be deemed an elector." 

Suffrage here embraces the right to vote for every 
officer in the State from the Governor down to constable. 
One only exception to this principle exists in this State — 
that is in the case of Justices of the Peace. These are 
appointed by the Legislature. Logical consistency was 



GOVERNMENT AND TAXATION. 57 

sacrificed in this case to secure what, in the judgment of 
the Convention, was a point of far higher importance, 
namely, the sound administration of justice in the 
county, and the administration of county finances, both 
of which are under the control of the Justices. In 
many of the eastern counties the colored population 
largely predominates. Newly emerged from slavery, 
and consequently ignorant of the duties of citizenship ; 
ignorant of the law and therefore incapable of adminis- 
tering it; themselves without property and therefore 
without the judgment necessary to administer the finances 
of a community ; it was deemed best to repose the power 
of making magistrates in another body; thus guarding 
those communities against error, whether of ignorance 
or design, until experience and education should make 
those colored majorities safe repositories of such power. 
This provision of the Constitution was inspired by no 
feeling of enmity toward the colored man ; it was a pro- 
vision of safety as well for the colored as for the white 
man. The provision was made impartial in its opera- 
tion ; it applies to every county in the State, whether the 
majority be white or black, and the object was secured. 
No such provision was necessary in the cases of officers 
elected by general ticket, for there the experience of the 
white population accustomed to the exercise of citizen- 
ship and educated to its responsibilities would counter- 
balance the inexperience of the colored race. 

Citizenship under the Constitution of North Caro- 
lina carries with it high and important rights apart from 
suffrage. It confers a right to an education by the 



58 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

State, such as will qualify the citizen for the duties to 
be performed. If he be without property, it gives him 
a right to support from the county, if incapable of earn- 
ing it by sickness or old age. If he have property and 
is overtaken by irremediable misfortune, it exempts from 
execution personal property to the value of five hundred 
dollars, and vests in the owner in fee simple the home- 
stead and the dwellings and the buildings used there- 
with not exceeding in value one thousand dollars to be 
selected by him. The unfortunate have thus a secure 
refuge in case of disaster in business. 

It regulates taxation by providing that the General 
Assembly levying a tax shall state the object to which 
it is to be applied, and enjoins that it be applied to no 
other purpose. It establishes an equation between the 
property and the capitation tax by directing that the 
capitation tax levied on each citizen shall be equal to the 
tax on property valued at three hundred dollars in cash. 
The capitation tax is levied on every male inhabitant in 
the State over twenty-one and under fifty years of age, 
which shall never exceed two dollars on the head. The 
effect of this limitation upon the capitation tax restricts 
the tax on each hundred dollars' worth of property to 
sixty-six and two-thirds cents. It further directs that 
the amount levied for county purposes shall not exceed 
the double of the State tax except for a special purpose 
and with the approval of the Legislature. 

The rate of State tax levied for the present year is 
twenty-five cents on one hundred dollars besides twelve 
and a half cents, school tax. 



EDUCATION. 



The Constitution of North Carolina, adopted in 1776, 
ordained as a part of the fundamental law that "schools 
shall be established for the convenient instruction of 
youth, with such salaries to the masters, paid by the 
public, as may enable them to instruct at low prices." 
As soon as the resources of the State permitted, this 
provision of the Constitution was carried into effect. 
Long before the civil war the system of common schools 
in this State had attained a full development. A fund 
of two millions of dollars had been accumulated, the 
income from which was supplemented by annual appro- 
priations. From 1852 to 1861 our educational progress 
attracted general attention and admiration. This fund 
was engulfed in the war, and the system had to be built 
up anew from the very foundation. 

The provision for State education under the new Con- 
stitution of North Carolina, if not equal to that of some 
other States, is yet liberal. The Constitution sets apart 
a large extent of land, and appropriates all moneys 
arising from certain specified sources, for establishing 
and maintaining free public schools in the several coun- 
ties of the State. Further, it directs the appropriation 
of 75 per cent., at least, of the State and county capita- 



60 HAND-BOOK OF NpRTH CAROLINA. 

tion tax to the same purpose. The moneys fr.)rn these 
sources form a permanent fund for education which can- 
not be diverted. The legislation of the last few years 
shows a growing sense of this great interest. That of 
the session of 1881 was a marked advance on any that- 
had gone before. In addition to the provisions speci- 
fied above, a tax of twelve and a half cents was levied 
on every hundred dollars worth of property and credits, 
and the tax on the poll was correspondingly increased 
thirty-seven and a half cents in aid of the education 
fund. The revenue from these sources was reckoned to 
be fully adequate to keep open the public schools for 
four months in the year. If the tax thus levied should 
prove insufficient to maintain one or more schools in 
each district for the period named, the county commis- 
sioners are required to levy annually a special tax to 
supply the deficiency. The ages for admission to the 
public school range from six to twenty-one years. 

The organization provided for administering the com- 
mon school system is sound and judicious. The Consti- 
tution provides a State Board of Education which has full 
power to legislate in relation to free public schools and 
the educational fund of the State. Its' legislation is sub- 
ject, however, to be altered or amended by the General 
Assembly. A Superintendent of Public Instruction 
presides over and directs the operations of the whole 
system. 

Corresponding to a State Board and State Superinten- 
dent, there is a county Board and county Superintendent. 



EDUCATION. 61 

The cotmty Board is charged with the general manage- 
ment of the public schools in their respective counties. 
The county Superintendent examines applicants for 
positions as teachers, visits and inspects the public 
schools, advises with teachers as to methods of instruc- 
tion and government, and he may, under regulations 
prescribed, suspend teachers if incompetent or negli- 
gent; his action in the latter case being subject to review 
by the county Board. 

The county Board of Education of each county has 
authority to establish a teacher's institute in their county, 
or the boards of any number of counties may join in 
establishing one for the several counties so co-operating. 

Each county is laid off into school districts, the con- 
venience of each neighborhood being consulted. In 
each district there is a school committee consisting of 
three persons. It is the duty of the committee to pro- 
vide school-houses, employ teachers, and give orders for 
the payment of the sums due for their services, and take 
at a stated period a census of the children within the 
school age. 

The compensation provided for teachers of the first 
grade is left to the discretion of the committee; that of 
teachers of the second grade is twenty-five dollars a 
month; that for those of the third grade is fifteen 
dollars. 

The schools for the two races are separate; the dis- 
tricts the same in territorial limits, or not, according to 
the convenience of the parties concerned. 



62 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

The financial arrangements with respect to the school 
fund give the most absolute security for its safe custody 
and proper application. It is collected by the sheriff 
and by him paid to the county treasurer. It is drawn 
by a written order of the district committee, which order 
is countersigned by the county Superintendent. The 
school fund, it will be seen, is handled by none but 
bonded officers, and paid out under the most effective 
checks for its proper disbursement. 

For the purpose of training teachers, and thus giving 
unity to methods of instruction, and the greatest effici- 
ency to its practical working, thirteen Normal Schools are 
established — eight for the white and five for the colored 
race; and an equal fund is appropriated to the Normal 
schools for each race. Within the last few years graded 
schools have been established in all the principal towns 
of the State, and the number is yearly increasing. 

The provision for higher education is ample. Private 
schools for both sexes are numerous. The principal in- 
stitutions for the education of boys and girls are of the 
highest order. 

At the head of the institutions of learning is the Uni- 
versity of the State, an institution established in pursu- 
ance of the Constitution, and maintained in part by 
annual appropriations. Science and learning in their 
widest range are there taught by professors eminent in 
their several branches. Second only to the University 
are the denominational colleges of the State, each having 
a corps of learned professors and tutors. 



RELIGION. 



The laws of North Carolina do not recognize any one 
religious sect in preference to the rest ; they are all ab- 
solutely independent of the control of the State. Each 
sect is thus on an exactly equal footing with every other. 
The people, however, are almost entirely Protestant of 
various denominations. 



STATE DEBT. 



The following tables contain a statement of the debt 
of the State of North Carolina, taken from the report of 
the Treasurer, made to the General Assembly, at its 

session in 1885 : 

Actual debt bearing four per cent, interest. . . $2,967,000.00 
Prospective debt bearing four per cent, interest 622,511.25 

$3,589,511.25 

The item designated as " prospective debt" represents 
bonds not yet exchanged under the "act to compromise 
the State debt." 

Actual debt bearing six per cent, interest $2,310,000.00 

Prospective debt, bearing six per cent, interest 
(old bonds now being renewed) 485,000.00 

$2,795,000.00 



64 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

This latter debt, $2,795,000, was incurred for the 
construction of the North Carolina Railroad, which is in 
great part owned by the State. The income from the 
dividends realized by the road is not only sufficient to 
pay the interest, but leaves a surplus which is regularly 
funded from year to year, the aggregate of which will 
extinguish the debt at the maturity of the bonds. This 
debt does not now impose, nor will it in future impose, 
one cent of taxation upon the people of the State. The 
first amount, $3,589,511.25, therefore represents the 
entire debt for which the property of the State is sub- 
ject to be taxed. 

The total valuation of real and personal property in 
North Carolina is, according to the Auditor's Report for 
1885, $209,569,096. But the valuation of property in 
this State is known to be from one-third to one-half 
below its real value. For the purpose of ascertaining 
the true value of the property of the State, an addition 
in that proportion must be made to the valuation above 
given. Taking, however, the valuation as given in the 
Auditor's Report, it will be seen that a tax of seven and 
one-half cents upon the hundred dollars worth of prop- 
erty will pay the interest upon the whole State debt. 

But there exists in fact no necessity for such a tax, 
light as it would be. The act under which the debt 
was compromised, appropriates certain taxes therein 
enumerated, known as privilege taxes, to the payment of 
the interest; and by the terms of the act this appropria- 
tion is made a part of the contract between the State and 



PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. 65 

the bondholders, and is therefore inviolable. From this 
source the amount realized is so large, that the remainder 
of the interest is provided by a tax of only four cents on 
the hundred dollars worth of the property of the State. 



PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. 



The three Asylums for the Insane, the two Institu- 
tions for the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind, the Or- 
phan Asylum and the county Poor Houses constitute 
the public charities of the State. The Penitentiary, 
county Jails and city Police Prisons are its penal insti- 
tutions. All are supervised by the Board of Public 
Charities. Two of the asylums for the insane, one at 
Raleigh and the other at Morganton, are set apart for 
white patients, and have a capacity of six hundred and 
seventy-nine inmates. At Goldsboro is situated the 
asylum for the colored insane. It has a capacity of one 
hundred and seventy-five patients. 

There is an institution for the white and one for the 
colored deaf and dumb and the blind children in the 
State, both situated at the Capital and under the same 
management. The pupils must be between the ages of 
eight and twenty years to gain admission, and are edu- 
cated and maintained while at the institution. 



66 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

The Orphan Asylum, at Oxford, is maintained by the 
charity of the Masons and other benevolent persons ; it 
receives an annual appropriation of ten thousand dollars 
per annum from the State. The inmates are clothed, 
fed and taught the rudiments of English and some trade 
or business. 

The Board of County Commissioners is charged 
with the duty of maintaining by taxation and of pro- 
viding for the comfort and well ordering of the poor. 
A competent person, called the Overseer, has the im- 
mediate management of the Poor House in each county, 
and generally it is well provided and appointed. 

The Penitentiary is located at the Capital and is one 
of the most substantial buildings of its kind. The 
number of criminals in proportion to the population of 
the State is small, when it is remembered that a large 
fraction of that population was once in slavery and had 
to be educated to the laws. Of this number 10 per cent, 
were convicted of crimes against persons. In this class 
all grades of crime from murder to aggravated assaults 
are included. The rest are committed for crimes against 
property. A large majority of this class of convicts are 
imprisoned for the crime of larceny. 

The State Capitol, the Agricultural Department 
Building, the Supreme Court Building, and all the 
Buildings of the Public Institutions are of a substantial 
and commodious character that reflects the general char- 
acter of the people. The Capitol is built of massive 
granite, and the other buildings of brick or a combina- 
tion of brick and granite. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 



The counties are here grouped under the heads of the 
several agricultural regions to which each predominantly 
belongs, or, in some cases, under that to which it is popu- 
larly assigned. Each county is described as a whole. 

The statements of areas of woodland, etc., refer to 
the original state of things, irrespective of tilled or 
otherwise improved lauds. 

The descriptions of counties are by Prof. W. C. Kerr, 
late State Geologist and Special U. S. Census Agent. 



SEABOARD REGION. 



■---7f- -i .Vi . 



(Embraces the counties of Currituck, Camden, Pas- 
quotank, Perquimans, Chowan, Dare, Tyrrell, Washing- 
ton, Hyde, Beaufort, Pamlico, Craven, Carteret, Jones, 
Onslow, Pender, New Hanover, Brunswick, Columbus). 

CURRITUCK. 

Currituck county is bounded northward by Virginia, east- 
ward by the Atlantic ocean, and southward mainly by Albe- 
marle sound, and is traversed north and south by Currituck 
sound, which occupies about one-third of its territory. Be- 
tween this sound and the Atlantic ocean lies a narrow strip of 
sandy soil, which in its origin is a sand-dune of the breadth 
of from 1 to 3 miles, rising in some of its higher hillocks to 
nearly one hundred feet, covered generally with a small growth 
of pine, oak, hickory, dogwood, etc. The body of the county, 
particularly the noithern section, is quite level, and has a 



68 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

growth of oaks, hickory and short-leaf pine, and a clay loam 
soil, but becomes swampy near the streams. There is a nar- 
row belt of oak and pine lands also in the middle section. 
The narrow southern promontory which projects into Albe- 
marle sound is for the most part sandy, and except along the 
margin of the sounds, where it is more or less swampy, has a 
growth of long-leaf pine. With the exception of the dune 
hills, nearly the whole county lies below the level of 10 feet 
above tide. 

The soils of this county are much better adapted to corn and 
rice than to cotton. The stalk of the latter grows luxuriantly, 
but does not fruit well. Fishing is also naturally a leading 
industry; and the county has great facilities for truck farm- 
ing, which is rapidly acquiring importance. Of the county 
area, 22.41 per cent, is tilled land, of which 0.78 per cent, is 
cultivated in cotton. 

The most abundant facilities exist for shipping by the sounds 
and canals and by rail. 

Population 6,476— White 4,495, colored 1,981. Area 282 
square miles, woodland 41,119 acres, tilled land 40.455 acres. 
Area planted in cotton 316 acres, in corn 23,310 acres, in wheat 
101 acres, in oats 267 acres. Cotton production 139 bales, 
average cotton product per acre 0.44 bale, 627 pounds seed- 
cotton, or 209 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate 
value $432,410, personal property $243,129, total $678,837. 
State taxes $847.29, county taxes $13,662.72, school taxes 
$2,634.03. Live stock— horses 1,098, mules 231, cattle 4,793, 
hogs 14,372, sheep 3,123. Public schools 35, white 24, col- 
ored 11. Churches 11. 



CAMDEN. 

Camden county is a long narrow strip of territory parallel to 
Currituck. Northwestward it reaches the Dismal swamp and 
southward Albemarle sound, and lies between two of its pro- 
jecting arms, Pasquotank river and North river. The north- 
ern and larger portion of this county belongs to the descrip- 
tion of serai-swamp or oak flats, and along the main rivers, 
and frequently for a mile or two from their margins, are gum 
and cypress swamps. At a distance from the streams these 
lands, as in the preceding county, are characterized by a heavy 
growth of oak, hickory, short-leaf pine, etc. The middle por- 
tion of the southern end of this county, along the divide 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 69 

between its two bounding water-courses, has a narrow zone of 
sandy loam soil with long-leaf pine forests. The main crops are 
corn and cotton, with some small grains; but fishing and truck- 
farming are also among the common and profitable industries, 
and several thousand bushels of flaxseed are annually exported. 
Of the county area, 26.20 per cent, is tilled land, of which 7.44 
per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 

Shipments are made to Norfolk by the Dismal Swamp canal 
and by rail. 

Population 6,274— White 3,791, colored 2,483. Area 214 
square miles, woodland 65,729 acres. Tilled lands 35,870 
acres, area planted in cotton 2,670 acres, in corn 23,663 acres, 
in wheat 461 acres, in oats 1,008 acres. Cotton production 
823 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.31 bale, 438 
pounds seed-cotton, or 146 pounds cotton lint. Real prop- 
erty, aggregate value $377,342, personal property, $203,951, 
total $581,293. State taxes $396.71, county taxes $6, *30.30, 
school taxes $2,766.64. Live stock— Horses 994, mules 286, 
cattle 2,811, hogs 8,334, sheep 1,515. Public schools 27, white 
16, colored 11. Churches 15. 



PASQUOTANK. 

Pasquotank is a long, narrow strip of territory parallel to 
Camden county, and is of similar topographical situation and 
agricultural features. It is bordered eastward and westward 
by two bay-like arms of the sound, Pasquotank river and Lit- 
tle river, both of which take their rise in the Great Dismal 
swamp. The upper and middle portions, therefore, belong to 
the general description of swampy land and semi-swamps. 
Near the streams there are generally strips of swamp proper, 
with gum, cypress and juniper forests, but farther from them 
are semi-swamps and oak and pine flats, with rak, hickory, 
short-lpaf pine, ash, maple, black gum, and holly. These 
lands are of great fertility. The southern end of the peninsula 
on the sound is, as usual, sandy, piny woods. The industries of 
the count} 7 are the same as those of Camden. More cotton is pro- 
duced, and lumbering still constitutes an item of consequence, 
as also in all these Albemarle counties. Truck farming is also 
assuming large proportions, and the raising of early potatoes for 
the northern market has recently become one of the most profita- 
ble industries. Of the county area, 34.62 per cent, is tilled land, 
of which 7.79 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. All these Al- 



70 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

bemarle counties have unlimited facilities for transportation 
through their numerous bays, rivers, and sounds, which are 
connected with Norfolk harbor through the Dismal swamp and 
the Currituck canals, and also by railway. 

Population 10,369— White 4,855, colored 5,514. Area 232 
square miles, woodland 44,345 acres. Tilled lands 51,400 
acres, area planted in cotton 4,004 acres, in corn 28,525 acres, 
in wheat 3,300 acres, in oats 1,930 acres. Cotton production 
1,181 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.29 bale, 420 
pounds seed-cotton or 140 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
aggregate value $955,431, personal property $430,428, total 
$1^385,859. State taxes $1,741.73, county taxes $15,674.20, 
school taxes $4,424.80. Live stock— Horses 1,162, mules 380, 
cattle 4,369, hogs 8,264, sheep 1,213. Public schools 39, 
white 20, colored 19. Churches 29. 



PERQUIMANS. 

Perquimans county is in every respect twin to the preceding, 
and northward it extends into the Great Dismal swamp. A 
considerable percentage of the surface of Perquimans is occu- 
pied by what is commonly called swamp land, though for the 
most part it is drainable and cultivable. These swamp lands, 
which are better described as semi-swamps and oak and pine 
flats, are a repetition of those before described, and have a 
similar soil, which varies from a fine gray loam to a dark 
mucky soil of high fertility. Along the Perquimans river, 
which is an arm of Albemarle sound, lie in a .southeasterly 
direction narrow zones of cypress swamps, beyond which, 
northward and southward, are narrow tracts of sandy soil, 
with forests mainly of long-leaf pine. These long-leaf pine 
tracts, which occupy the divides between the streams, project 
in the form of promontories into the margin of the sound. Of 
the county area, 34.15 per cent, is tilled land, of which 13.12 
per cent, is cultivated in cotton. Shipments are by sound 
and canal steamers and by rail to Norfolk. 

Population 9,466— White 4,795, colored 4,671. Area 245 
square miles, woodland 61,482 acres. Tilled lands 53,544 
acres, area planted in cotton 7,025 acres, in corn 21,910 acres, 
in wheat 2,957 acres, in oats 1,222 acres. Cotton production 
2,778 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.40 bale, 564 
pounds seed-cotton, or 188 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 71 

aggregate value $765,119, personal property $399,121, total 
$1,164,320. State taxes $692, county taxes $7,494.75, echool 
taxes $3,400.16. Live stock— Horses 1,291, mules 486, cattle 
4,908, hogs 11,362, sheep 3,002. Public schools 46, white 28, 
colored 18. Churches 12, 



CHOWAN. 

Chowan county lies in the angle of the Chowan river and 
Albemarle sound. Northward it consists of sandy, upland 
piny woods, except narrow tracts along the river and some of 
its tributaries, where cypress swamps of considerable extent 
are found ; and there are also large areas of oak flats. The 
southern portion of the county, lying near the sound and 
south of the Yeopim river, is characterized by a gray clay- 
loam soil and a mixed oak and pine forest growth, and is for 
the most part very productive. Bear Swamp, which crosses 
the county in a northeast and southwest direction, is more pro- 
perly a semi-swamp from 3 to 5 miles wide, very level, with a 
gray silty soil, and the characteristic growth of such lands 
comprises short-leaf pine, oaks, maple, ash, dogwood, occa- 
sionally cypress and gum, and frequently a large admixture of 
holly, which here attains the size of oaks and furnishes a supe- 
rior cabinet wood. The agriculture of the county, as well as 
its other industries, is quite like that of Gates. Its fisheries 
are among the largest and most profitable in the country. Of 
the county area 36.72 per cent, is tilled land, of which 17.16 
per cent, is cultivated in cotton. Being surrounded on three 
sides by navigable waters and crossed by a line of railway, 
the county has abundant means of transportation. 

Population 7,900— White 3,633, colored 4,267. Area 150 
square miles, woodland 44,446 acres. Tilled lands 35,234 
acres, area planted in cotton 6,047 acres, in corn 13,877 acres, 
in wheat 622 acres, in oats 791 acres. Cotton production 
2,223 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.37 bale, 525 
pounds seed-cotton, or 175 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
aggregate value $641,996, personal property $303,585, total 
$945,581. State taxes $891.46, county taxes $6,107.42, school 
taxes $2,978.55. Live stock — Horses 794, mules 418, cattle 
2,707, hogs 10,305, sheep 523. Public schools 28. white 16, 
colored 12. Churches 16. 



72 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



DARE. 

The surface of Dare county is mainly water, the land, made 
up of a succession of long, narrow islands and peninsulas, being 
interpenetrated throughout by great bays, sounds and naviga- 
ble bayous. The county is bounded eastward by the Atlantic 
ocean, westward by Alligator river and southward by Pamlico 
sound. The larger portion, on the main-land, is a swamp, which 
lies but a few feet above tide-level. Around the margins of 
this portion, next the sound, are narrow tracts of a few miles, 
in places, of drainable, cultivable land belonging to the general 
description of oak flats, having a gray-loam soil of a close 
texture. It is also fringed b}^ considerable bodies of marsh 
land next the sound, from which large crops of cranberries are 
gathered. Roanoke island, a part of this county, lies within 
the upper portion of Pamlico sound, and is a narrow tract, 
twelve miles in length and from two to three miles in width. 
The upper portion is for the most part sandy, with a short-leaf 
pine growth, intermixed with oaks, and the southern half is 
mainly swamp and marsh. The easternmost part of the county, 
like the corresponding portion of Currituck, is a narrow fringe 
of sand reef, properly a dune, which, as in the former case, was 
originally covered with a forest of short-leaf pine, oaks, hick- 
ories, dogwood, etc., with abundance of grape-vines. These 
have for the most part disappeared, leaving a tract of sand 
waves, which are moving, under the impact of the trade winds, 
constantly toward the southwest into the sound, and sometimes 
rise to a height of more than 100 feet. There is very little till- 
able land in the county. Its chief industry is, of course, fish- 
ing. Of the county area, only 0.86 per cent, is tilled land, of 
which 7.68 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 

Population 3,243— White 2,875, colored 368. Area 382 
square miles, woodland 19,996 acres. Tilled lands 2,094 acres, 
area planted in cotton 16 acres, in corn 956 acres, in wheat 25 
acres, in oats 17 acres. Cotton production 8 bales, average 
cotton product per acre 0.50 bale, 714 pounds seed-cotton or 
238 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $135,- 
594, personal property $97,114, total $232,738. State taxes 
$118.55, county taxes $2,868.59, school taxes $729.67. Live 
stock— Horses 462, mules 20, cattle 1,951, hogs 3,030, sheep 
1,754. Public schools 14, white 14. Churches 10, 



DESCRIPTIONS OP COUNTIES. 73 



TYRRELL. 

The description of Tyrrell county may be given by simply re- 
peating that of Washington, except that the great intersound 
swamp extends over a larger part of the county. Its northern 
third, lying on Albemarle sound, resembles in all its features 
the corresponding portion of Washington. No part of it rises 
20 feet above sea-level. It is bounded on the east by the great 
projection from Albemarle sound known as Alligator river, 
which has a depth nearly equal to that of the sound and a 
breadth of from three to five miles. A portion of the rich 
border land of Lake Phelps lies within this county. In the 
southeastern corner, along Alligator river and its tributaries, 
and on the western side, these lands are semi-swamps and oak 
flats, and have a gray silt and clay loam soil. Of the county 
area, 7.98 per cent, is tilled land, of which 18.11 per cent, is 
cultivated in cotton. 

Population 4,545— White 3,110, colored 1,435. Area 376 
square miles, woodland 57,282 acres. Tilled lands 19,225 acres, 
area planted in cotton 3,481 acres, in corn 8,300 acres, in 
wheat 261 acres, in oats 781 acres. Cotton production 1,123 
bales, average cotton product per acre 0.32 bale, 459 pounds 
seed -cotton, or 153 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggre- 
gate value $398,578, personal property $248,465, total $647,- 
043. State taxes $296.82, county taxes $3,702.26, school taxes 
$1,714.42. Live stock— Horses*404, mules 318, cattle 4,123, 
hogs 5,914, sheep 1,475. Public schools 19, white 13, colored 
6. Churches 10. 



WASHINGTON. 

Washington county lies on the southern shore of Albemarle 
sound and Roanoke river, and extends southward into the 
great intersound, or Alligator swamp. Only about one-half 
its territory, next to Albemarle sound, has been brought into 
cultivation to any extent, the southern half remaining in its 
original condition. The cultivable portion consists mainly of 
oak fiats, having a close gray clay loam soil and a growth of 
oak, hickory, beech, maple, and short-leaf pine, with flattish 
ridges here and there which have an intermixture of long and 
short-leaf pine and sandy loam soils. The former are gen- 
erally quite fertile. The southern portion of the county is 
swampy, and is characterized by the presence of two consid- 
erable lakes, Phelps and Pungo, which occupy the highest 
4 



7 I HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

portions of the swamp, and from which many of the streams 
of the county take their rise. Around the margins of these 
lakes are narrow belts or ridges of swampy, mucky land, 
which were originally covered by heavy forests of gum, ash, 
maple, cypress, poplar, etc. The soils are of great depth and 
indefinite fertility. Much of the swamp land of this portion 
of the county is peaty and worthless, except for timber. The 
southwestern section consists partly of semi-swamps, with gray, 
fertile loams, and partly, in the "Longacre" country, of poco- 
sons, with a small growth of pine and scrub oaks, very flat, 
with an ashen soil of close texture, silicious, but as impervi- 
ous as clay. Of the county area, 12.56 per cent is tilled land, 
of which 26.43 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 

Population 8,928— White 4,554, colored 4,374. Area 382 
square miles, woodland 75,816 acres. Tilled lands 30,711 
acres, area planted in cotton 8,117 acres, in corn 15,824 acres, in 
wheat 647 acres, in oats 1,065 acres. Cotton production 3,524 
bales, average cotton product per acre 0.43 bale, 618 pounds seed- 
cotton, or 206 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate 
value $530,031, personal property $354,225, total $884,256. 
State taxes $754,96, county taxes $3,776.95, school taxes 
$3,217.24. Live stock— Horses 835, mules 328, cattle 4,050, 
hogs 9,141, sheep 1,050. Public schools 46, white 29, colored 
17. Churches 17. 



HYDE. 



Hyde county is enveloped by sounds and great bay-like 
rivers, and its middle portion is occupied by a large lake, 
Mattamuskeet, 20 miles in length and 6 miles wide, with two 
other lakes in its northern portion. Two-thirds of its land- 
surface is occupied by the great Alligator swamp. A narrow 
fringe of from 1 to 2 miles' width around the central lake is 
the highest portion of the county, and is from 6 to 10 feet 
above tide. It was originally covered with a heavy swamp 
growth of cypress, gum (tupelo), maple, ash, etc. These 
lands have been cultivated for a century, and still produce 50 
bushels of corn to the acre without manure or rotation. This 
ridge slopes off in every direction from the lake — eastward 
into a tract of oak flats which extends to the sound. The 
southwestern portion of the county within the projecting arms 
of Pungo river, and other bays from Pamlico sound may also 
be described as oak flats, with a soil which, in general terms, 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 75 

is a gray silty loam — an admirable wheat soil. The northern 
portion of this county, throughout its whole extent from east 
to west, is a low-lying savanna or peaty cypress and juniper 
swamp, like the Great Dismal, called Alligator swamp. Of 
the county area 9.02 per cent, is tilled land, of which 7.81 per 
cent, is cultivated in cotton. The productions of this county 
are chiefly corn and wheat, to which has been recently added 
rice. Lumbering and fishing complete the list of its industries. 
Population 7,765— White 4,424, colored 3,341. Area 557 
square miles, woodland 41,247 acres. Tilled lands 32,167 
acres, area planted in cotton 2,513 acres, in corn 21,632 acres, 
in wheat 1,079 acres, in oats 1,354 acres. Cotton production 
718 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.29 bale, 408 
pounds seed-cotton, or 136 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
aggregate value $442,227, personal property $394,231, total 
$836,458. State taxes $257.68, county taxes $5,029.62, school 
taxes $2,443.44. Live stock — Horses 1,143, mules 204, cattle 
6,451, hogs 9,210, sheep 1,728. Public schools 47, white 81, 
colored 16. Churches 25. 



BEAUFORT. 

Beaufort county lies south of Washington county, on both 
sides of the Pamlico river, which, in this part of its course,, is 
an arm of the sound of the same name, from 2 to 6 miles wide, 
and throws off several wide projections or bays into the county 
on both sides. It is bounded on the east by Pungo river, 
another broad arm of Pamlico sound, whose waters also pene- 
trate the county in numerous wide navigable bayous. A con- 
siderable proportion of the county is occupied by swamp lands. 
In the northern section, and across its whole breadth, lies the 
western extremity of the great intersound swamp, which attains 
its greatest elevation here of 40 feet above tide. In this cul- 
minating swell, between the Roanoke and Pamlico rivers, rise 
numerous tributaries of these rivers and of the sounds. The 
central portion of this part of the swamp belongs to that class 
of soils described as "pccoson,'' and is of very low fertility. 
Along the courses of the streams, as they flow out from this 
swell, are considerable marginal tracts of semi-swamp and oak 
flats, which are very productive. There are also belts of cypress 
swamp near Pamlico river and the other streams on both sides, 
and south of the swamp, in the middle as well as along the 
western edge of the county, the land is mostly a level piny 



76 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

woods, with a light sandy soil. In the eastern- portion of the 
county, and on both sides of the Pamlico river, both along the 
banks of this river and of the before-mentioned projections, are 
large tracts of oak flats and semi-swamp, which are among the 
most productive soils of the region. Near the mouth of Pungo 
river occurs one of the largest prairies or natural meadows, 
Savannas, in the State, embracing an area of 1,200 or 1,500 
acres. It is treeless and fringed by short leaf pine and oak 
forests, and has a fine, close, gray sandy soil, as impervious as 
clay. Its subsoil is of the same character, but is more clayey, 
and is of a slightly yellowish color. Marl is found in various 
parts of the county, but is little used. Of the county area, 
10.99 per cent is tilled land, of which 27.01 per cent is culti- 
vated in cotton. 

Population 17,474— White 10,022, colored 7,452. Area 620 
square miles, woodland 224,330 acres. Tilled lands 43,625 
acres, area planted in cotton 11,785 acres, in corn 20,225 acres, 
in wheat 374 acres, in oats 1,395 acres. Cotton production 
6,021 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.51 bale, 729 
pounds seed-cotton or 243 pounds cotton lint. Eeal property, 
aggregate value $1,410,636, personal property $837,706, total 
$2,248,342. State taxes $1,899.59, county taxes $14,627.76, 
school taxes $5,957.47. Live stock — Horses 1,456, mules 654, 
cattle 10,109, hogs 21,245, sheep 5,257. Public schools 62, 
white 36, colored 26. Churches 27. 



PAMLICO. 

Pamlico county is bounded on the east by Pamlico sound, 
and is enveloped by two of its great arms, Pamlico and Neuse 
rivers. Another of these arms, Bay river, with its numerous 
bayous, penetrates the central portion of the county, and 
nearly its whole border is deeply indented by smaller projec- 
tions from the sound. A large part of the county consists of 
swamp lands with extensive oak and beech flats. These soils 
are very rich. Cotton is a leading crop in this county. There 
is a narrow belt of sandy, piny woods crossing the county 
diagonally from the southeastern angle at Wilkinson's Point to 
Durham's creek in the northwestern corner. Of the county 
area, only 5.65 per cent, is tilled land, of which 25. 20 per cent, 
is cultivated in cotton. 

Population 6,323— White 4,207, colored 2,116. Area 470 
square miles, woodland 86,574 acres. Tilled lands 16,989 



DESCKJPTIONS OF COUN TIES. 77 

acres, area planted in cotton 4,585 acres, in corn 6,381 acres, 
in wheat 285 acres, in oats 378 acres. Cotton production 
2,226 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.49 bale, 693 
pounds seed-cotton, or 231 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
aggregate value $326,115, personal property $184,531, total 
$510,646. State taxes $369.47, county taxes $7,309.57, school 
taxes $2,149.37. Live stock — Horses 571, mules 180, cattle 
3,425, hogs 7,971, sheep 1,582. Public schools 40, white 23, 
colored 17. Churches 15. 



CRAVEN. 

Craven is a large, straggling county, stretching 60 miles 
along the lower reaches of the Neuse river, which passes 
through its centre and drains its entire area. The physical 
description of its territory, especially the southern and eastern 
sections, is identical with that of the two preceding counties. 
It consists largely of swamps, pocoson, and oak flats. The 
section lying north of the Neuse river belongs for the most 
part in its agricultural features to the second subdivision, or 
long leaf pine belt, having considerable tracts of pine flats and 
long-leaf pine ridges, with a soil often very sandy and unpro- 
ductive. Near its upper margin it is penetrated by consider- 
able tracts of swamp and semi-swamp lands, which project 
southward from Pamlico river and form properly the western 
extension of Bay River swamp. Along the southern shore of 
Neuse river the soil is mainly a close gray loam. The Great 
DoAer Pocoson, occupying more than 100 square miles in its 
southwestern angle, is elevated 60 feet above tide in its cen- 
tral part, and is very flat and sterile for the most part, but has 
strips of oak and pine flats radiating in all directions from the 
centre along the numerous streams. Of the county area 9.68 
per cent, is tilled land, of which 25.25 per cent, is cultivated 
in cotton. 

Population 19,729— White 6,664, colored 13,065. Area 820 
square miles, woodland 197,135 acres. Tilled lands 50,853 
acres, area planted in cotton 12,838 acres, in corn 19,001 acres, 
in wheat 235 acres, in oats 333 acres. Cotton production 5,782 
bales, average cotton product per acre 0.45 bale, 642 pounds 
seed-cotton, or 214 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggre- 
gate value $1,625,960, personal property $638,046, total 
$2,364,206. State taxes $2,566.92, county taxes $34,679.08, 
school taxes $7,076.37. Live stock — Horses 1,063, mules 528, 
cattle 743, hogs 9,542, sheep 2,302. Public schools 63, white 
28, colored 35. Churches 30. 



78 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

CARTERET. 

Carteret county occupies a long strip of country south of 
Craven county and of Pamlico sound, and is bounded south- 
ward by the Atlantic ocean. It is traversed east and west 
through the middle by a succession of swamps, the largest of 
which, occupying its eastern peninsular projection, is called 
the Open Ground Prairie swamp. This is a peat swamp, quite 
barren in its middle parts, but fringed around its margin with 
oak flats and gray silty soil. There is also a line of sand 
islands (sand dunes) along the coast, and inland, parallel to 
the coast, are several ridges of long-leaf pine, sandy lands. 
The highest part of the county is only 37 feet above tide. 
Carteret has the advantage of the best harbor on the coast of 
this State. Of the county area, 6.90 per cent, is tilled land, 
of which 16.33 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 

Population 9,784— White 7,107, colored 2,677. Area 407 
square miles, woodland 67,211 acres. Tilled lands 17,984 
acres, area planted in cotton 2,936 acres, in corn 5,156 acres, 
in wheat 418 acres, in oats 107 acres. Cotton production 1,014 
bales, average cotton product per acre 0.35 bale, 492 pounds 
seed-cotton, or 164 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggre- 
gate value $466,403, personal property $243,587, total $709,990. 
State taxes $615.13, county taxes $5, 624. 83, school taxes 
$2,497.12. Live stock— horses 1,060, mules 106, cattle 5,512, 
hogs 4,206, sheep 1,504. Public school's 33, white 24, colored 
9. Churches 17. 



JONES. 

The great tract of swamp land which lies between the Neuse 
river and the Atlantic ocean and extends through a consider- 
able portion of the two preceding counties projects westward 
into Jones county, where it reaches its highest elevation of 40 
feet, and is crowned by a chain of small lakes of from 1 to 
3 or 4 miles diameter on the summit, on the border of Jones 
and Carteret counties. The northern border of the county is 
occupied by a portion of the great Dover pocoson, which pro- 
jects into it from Craven. In its middle and southern sections 
lies a great part of the great White Oak swamp, the central 
portion of which is also a pocoson; but it is margined about 
with, fringes of canebrake lands, white-oak flats and cranberry 
marshes, as well as by considerable tracts of swamp lands cov- 
ered with oak, cypress, gum, poplar, ash, etc. Trent river 



DESCRIPTIONS OP COUNTIES. 79 

flows through the centre and, with its tributaries, drains almost 
its entire area. Along this river on both sides are considerable 
bodies of long-leaf pine sandy lands. There are also along the 
main river, as well as its tributaries, narrow strips of oak flats 
and occasional gum and cypress swamps. The county resem- 
bles, therefore, very closely the two last described in physical 
features and in products and industries. Of the county area, 
21.47 per cent, is tilled land, of which 15.83 per cent, is culti- 
vated in cotton. 

Population 7,491— White 3,212, colored 4,279. Area 389 
square miles, woodland 134,598 acres. Tilled land 53,458 acres, 
area planted in cotton 8,463 acres, in corn 19,425 acres, in wheat 
429 acres, in rye 245 acres, in oats 455 acres. Cotton produc- 
tion 4,078 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.48 bale, 687 
pounds seed-cotton or 229 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
aggregate value $520,269, personal property $99,045, total 
$619,314. State taxes $223.63, county taxes $6,072.49, school 
taxes $3,285.47. Live stock — Horses 710, mules 536, cattle 
3,433, hogs 10,298, sheep 2,675. Public schools 66, white 22, 
colored 44. Churches 13. 



ONSLOW. 

The identical terms used in the description of the preceding 
county might be repeated for Onslow. Nearly one-half of the 
White Oak swamp lies in its northern section, and from it flow 
most of the streams by which the county is drained. The best 
agricultural lands of the county lie along the margin of this 
swamp. A great part of it is drained southward into New 
river, which traverses the entire length of the county from 
north to south. This river, for one-half of its length, is a broad, 
navigable bay, from 1 to 2 miles wide, and is famous for its 
fine oysters and fish. On both sides of it are large tracts of 
upland piny woods, with a gray sandy soil, which are admira- 
bly adapted to the production of cotton. Nearer the sea-coast 
and its fringe of sounds the soils are more sandy, and are cov- 
ered with long-leaf pines as their principal growth, a similar- 
large tract occupying its northwestern section. There are 
numerous narrow fringes of cypress swamps along the various 
streams. A portion of the southwestern side of this county is 
penetrated by the Holly Shelter pocoson. The productions of 
this county are similar to those of the preceding. Of the county 
area, 13.59 per cent, is tilled land, of which 11.86 per cent, is 
cultivated in cotton. 



80 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Shipping is done by way of New river, which is navigable 
to the middle of the county. 

Population 9,829— White 6,600, colored 3,229. Area 645 
square miles, woodland 212,866 acres. Tilled lands 56,120 
acres, area planted in cotton 6,658 acres, in corn 23,259 acres, 
in oats 96 acres. Cotton production 2,841 bales, average cot- 
ton product per acre 0.43 bale, 609 pounds seed cotton or 203 
pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $668,745, 
personal property $900,114, total $1,568,859. State taxes 
$200.31, county taxes $4,292.90, school taxes $2,975.42. Live 
stock — Horses 755, mules 566, cattle 6,543, hogs 18,760, sheep 
5,364. Public schools 65, white 40, colored 25. Churches 19. 



PENDER, 

Pender county, like the preceding, is bounded in part on 
the south by the Atlantic ocean, with its fringe of sounds, 
marshes, and dunes, and is drained southward by the waters of 
the Northeast Cape Fear river. Holly Shelter pocoson occu- 
pies a large part of the southeastern section, and from it flow 
numerous creeks into the above-mentioned river, while others 
flow directly into the Atlantic. The central portion and larger 
part of this great pocoson, which contains about 100 square 
miles, is quite barren, but around its margin, especially toward 
the river, are considerable tracts of white-oak flats, canebrake, 
and swamp lands, with their characteristic growths and soils. 
In the northeastern section lies the half of another similar 
pocoson nearly as large, called Angola bay, and in the the cen- 
tre of the western half of the county is a third but much 
smaller swamp of the same general character. The western 
side of the county for the breadth of from six to eight miles 
belongs to the region of upland piny woods, the principal 
growth being long-leaf pines, with an undergrowth of oaks, 
hickory, dogwood, etc., and a sandy soil; but some of it ap- 
proaches the character of the regular "sand-hills," with pine 
and oak flats here and there. Along the streams are gener- 
ally alluvial belts or swamps and oak flats, w T hich are the corn 
lands of the county. A savanna of several square miles is 
found in the upper end of the county, which merges north- 
ward into a barren pocoson of still greater extent, Marl 
abounds in all parts of the county, and Eocene limestone is 
found along the principal river above named. These add 
greatly to its agricultural advantages. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 81 

The cotton product is inconsiderable; the remaining pro- 
ducts are corn, rice, potatoes, lumber and naval stores. 

Of the county area, 6.71 per cent, is tilled land, of which 
3.83 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 

Cotton and other products are shipped to Wilmington and 
Norfolk by rail, or to the former by the two Cape Fear 
rivers, which form the boundaries east and west. 

Population 12,468— White 5,509, colored 6,959. Area 889 
square miles, woodland 287,700 acres. Tilled lands 38,156 
acres, area planted in cotton 1,463 acres, in corn 16,550 acres, 
in wheat 7 acres, in oats 183 acres. Cotton production 835 
bales, average cotton product per acre 0.57 bale, 813 pounds 
seed-cotton, or 271 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggre- 
gate value $939,111, personal property $326,304, total $1,263,- 
415. State taxes $422.91, county taxes $7,689.90, school 
taxes $3,922.42. Live stock— Horses 665, mules 401, cattle 
6,446, hogs 16,465, sheep 5,369. Public schools 62, white 24, 
colored 38. 



NEW HANOVER. 

New Hanover is one of the smallest counties in the State, 
and consists of a narrow triangular wedge between the Cape 
Fear river on the west and the Atlantic coast on the east, with 
its narrow fringe of sounds, marshes, and dunes. The mar- 
gins of the streams and sounds are bordered in many places by 
narrow strips of oak and pine flats with a gray silty soil. The 
central portion of the county, as well as the dunes along the 
shore, are sandy and unproductive; but there are tracts of 
alluvial and swamp-land river bottoms along the Cabe Fear 
which produce large crops of rice. The county contains the 
largest city in the State, Wilmington (population nearly 
20,000). It is also the most important seaport, and has a 
large foreign as well as inland trade in lumber, naval stores, 
and cotton, both by means of its railways and navigable rivers. 
Of the county area 6.35 per cent, is tilled land, of which 1.92 
per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 

Population 21,376— white 8,159, colored 13,217. Area 182 
square miles, woodland 39,603 acres. Tilled lands 7,396 acres, 
area planted in cotton 142 acres, in corn 2,008 acres, in oats 86 
acres. Cotton production 66 bales, average cotton product 
per acre 0.46 bale, 663 pounds seed-cotton, or 221 pounds cot- 
ton lint. Real property, aggregate value $3,709,967, personal 



82 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



property $1,594,603, total $5,304,372. State taxes $8,785.24, 
countv taxes $25,550.02, school taxes $14,574.36. Live Stock 
—Horses 661, mules 187, cattle 1,989, hogs 2,485, sheep 123. 
Public schools 24, white 9, colored 15. Churches 31. 



BRUNSWICK. 

Brunswick county lies on the west side of the Cape Fear 
river, and touches the Atlantic on the south. Its central and 
western portion is occupied by the great pocoson known as 
Green swamp, which, with its many projections, covers nearly 
half of'the territory of the county. This swamp is bordered 
by wide tracts of canebrakes, and contains extensive areas of 
gum, cypress and juniper swamps, which have been for half a 
century the centre of a large lumber' trade. The various 
streams which flow from this swamp to all points of the com- 
pass are bordered by oak flats, tracts of semi-swamp, and often 
by canebrakes, and in the body of it are numerous hummocks 
or flat ridges having a silty soil and a growth of short-leaf pine 
and small oaks. Between the arms of the swamp, on the nar- 
row divides, and particularly in the southern portion of the 
county, near the seashore, are patches of long-leaf pine lands 
with sandy soils, and elsewhere of level piny woods, valuable 
for lumber and naval stores. Along the Cape Fear are large 
bodies of alluvial lands of unsurpassed fertility, which are among 
the best rice soils in this country. Waccamaw lake occupies the 
highest part of Green swamp, and covers an area of about 40 
square miles. Naval stores and lumber are, of course, the princi- 
pal interests, agriculture being of subordinate importance, and 
limited mainly to the cultivation of rice, of which its product is 
more than double that of any other county in the State. Of 
the county area, 3.46 per cent, is tilled land, of which 2.14 
per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 

Population 9,389— White 5,337, colored 4,052. Area 814 
square miles, woodland 304,722 acres. Tilled lands, 18,006 
acres, area planted in cotton 385 acres, in corn 4,915 acres, in 
wLeat 8 acres, in oats 240 acres. Cotton production 244 bales, 
average cotton product per acre 0.63 bale, 903 pounds* seed- 
cotton or 301 pounds cotton lint. Real property aggregate 
value $639,682, personal property $326,777, total $966,459. 
State taxes $388.38, county tnxes $5,235 37, school taxes 
$2,995.10. Live stock— Horses 319, mules 185, cattle 7,742, 
hogs 13,177, sheep 5,568. Public schools 56, white 37, col- 
ored 19. Churches 9. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 83 



COLUMBUS. 

Columbus county lies farther inland, and contains a larger 
proportion of upland piny woods soil than Brunswick. It is 
penetrated through all its parts by narrow belts of gum and 
cypress swamp and considerable tracts of oak and pine flats. 
The average soil of its upland piny woods is of moderate fer- 
tility, well adapted to the growth of cotton, but the richer 
swamp and gray-loam lands are devoted principally to corn. 
Brown marsh and White marsh are two large bodies of swamp 
in the eastern side of the county, and Gum swamp and others 
of less extent are found in the south and west. The produc- 
tion of cotton, potatoes and rice divides with lumber and naval 
stores the interest of its people. Marl is found in several parts 
of the county. Of the county area 6.69 per cent is tilled land, 
of which 5.52 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 

Population 14,439— White 8,926, colored 5,513. Area 895 
square miles, woodland 357,014 acres. Tilled lands 38,293 
acres, area planted in cotton 2,153 acres, in corn 15,723 acres, 
in wheat 38 acres, in oats 267 acres. Cotton production 930 
bales, average cotton product per acre 0.44 bale, 627 pounds 
seed cotton or 209 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggre- 
gate value $843,317, personal property $823,158, total $1,666,- 
475, State taxps $1,060.56, county taxes $6,857.21, school taxes 
$5,833.44. Live stock— Horses 599, mules 492, cattle 9,290, 
hogs 27,243, sheep 11,143. Public schools 83, white 54, colored 
29," churches 27. 



LONG-LEAF PINE REGION. 

(Embraces the following counties and parts of coun- 
ties: Gates, Hertford, Bertie, Northampton, Halifax, 
Nash, Edgecombe, Pitt, Greene, Martin, Wilson, John- 
ston, Wayne, Lenoir, Duplin, Sampson, Cumberland, 
Harnett, Moore, Richmond, Robeson and Bladen). 

GATES. 

Gates county lies between the Chowan river and the Dismal 
swamp, of which it includes a considerable section. The 
body of the. county consists of level piny uplands, with a 



84 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. " 

sandy loam soil. It has a narrow strip of very sandy, long- 
leaf pine land near the Chowan river, and also in the south- 
eastern corner of the county. Along the Chowan river and its 
tributaries are tracts of cypress swamp from 1 to 2 and 8 miles 
wide. Near the smaller streams are narrow tracts of pine and 
oak flats having a gray clay loam soil. Marl is found in the 
banks of the Chowan river and in the southern end of the 
county. Of the county area, 22.50 per cent, is under tillage. 
of which 11.69 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 

Population 8,897— White 4,973, colored 3,924. Area 839 
square miles, woodland 101,616 acres. Tilled lauds 48,821 
acres, area planted in cotton 5,707 acres, in corn 21,946 acres, 
in wheat, 708 acres, in oats 1,210 acres. Cotton production 
1,863 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.33 bale, 465 
pounds seed cotton, or 155 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
aggregate value $579,187, personal property $483,762. total 
$1,062,949. State taxes $692.73, county 'taxes $3,573.18, 
school taxes $3,208.26. Live stock — Horses 1 358, mules 
3,888, cattle 5,713, hogs 14,429, sheep 3,160. Public schools 
39, white 25, colored 14. Churches 16. 



HERTFORD. 

Hertford county lies on the northern border of the State. 
and is bounded eastward by the Chowan river. The soils are 
for the most part of the general region of upland piny woods 
lands, but near the water-courses there are considerable tracts 
of oak and pine flats and alluvial land. Along the margin of 
the Chowan and some of the other water-courses are fringes of 
gum and cypress swamp. Marl in abundance underlies the 
surface. Besides the culture of cotton and corn, there are the 
fish, lumber and naval-stores industries. Of the county area, 
22.28 per cent, is tilled land, of which 27.24 per cent, is culti- 
vated in cotton. Cotton, lumber, and other products arc 
shipped by steamer and rail to Norfolk. 

Population 11,843— White 5,122, colored 6,721. Area 376 
square miles, woodland 119,330 acres. Tilled lands 53.625 
acres, area planted in cotton 14,605 acres, in corn 25,521 acres, 
in wheat 817 acres, in oats 1,800 acres. Cotton production 
6,360 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.44 bale, 621 
pounds seed cotton, or 207 pounds cotton lint. Real property. 
aggregate value $1,068,598, personal property $753,617, total 
$1,822,215. State taxes $1,301.50. county taxes $7,117.00, 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 85 

school taxes $6,072.91. Live stock — Horses 1,395, mules 593, 
cattle 4,421, hogs 14,529, sheep 2,149. Public schools 56, 
white 30, colored 26. Churches 15. 



BERTIE. . 

Bertie county lies south of Hertford, in the angle between 
Roanoke and Chowan rivers, and consists for the most part of 
level piny uplands, having a sandy loam soil; but the northern 
part of it is largely pine flats, having an infertile ash-colored, 
fine sandy soil. The southern part, near the Roanoke river, 
and along its chief tributary, the Oashie, are wide tracts of 
level oak and pine lands, which are very productive. The 
Roanoke river through almost the whole length of this county 
is bordered by a tract of alluvial lands from 3 to 6 miles wide, 
subject to annual overflows, and covered with heavy forests of 
cypress, maple, ash, &c, which are among the most fertile of 
the continent. In the middle region, on and near the Cashie 
and its tributaries, are considerable bodies of valuable swamp 
and semi-swamp lands. Cotton, corn, potatoes, fish and lum- 
ber, make up the list of industries of this county. Marl is found 
the southern and middle sections. Of the county area, 18.68 in 
per cent, is in tilled land, of which 23.62 per cent, is culti- 
vated in cotton. 

Population 16,399— White 6.815, colored 9,584. Area 689 
square miles, woodland 184,070 acres. Tilled lauds 82,377 
acres, area planted in cotton 19,455 acres, in corn 37,735 acres, 
in wheat 309 acres, in oats 2,403 acres. Cotton production 
7,290 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.37 bale, 534 
pounds seed-cotton, or 178 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
aggregate value $1,444,183, personal propertv $732,734, total 
$2,176,917. State taxes $1,792.59, county" taxes $7,387.85, 
school taxes $6,947.31. Live stock— Horses i, 845, mules 1,011, 
cattle 9,015, hogs 23,219, sheep 5,768. Public schools 79, 
white 46, colored 33. Churches 21. 



NORTHAMPTON. 



Northampton county is situated between the Virginia border 
and the Roanoke river. Its soils belong to the general region 
of level piny uplands, merging toward the western limit into 
oak uplands and a more hilly surface, with an elevation of 150 



86 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

feet above sea-level. Its numerous streams have general 
fringes of oak flats, alluvions, or gum and cypress swamps, 
and the Roanoke river has in its extensive "bottoms" some of 
the best corn lands in the State. Of the county area 27.09 per 
cent is tilled land, of which 37.51 per cent, is cultivated in 
cotton. 

Population 20,032— White 7,987, colored 12,045. Area 557 
square miles, woodland 144,779 acres. Tilled lands 96.565 
acres, area planted in cotton 36,219 acres, in tobacco 36 acres, 
in corn 45,224 acres, in wheat 1,725 acres, in oats 4,805 acres. 
Cotton production 13,616 bales, average cotton product per 
acre 0.38 bale, 537 pounds seed-cotton, or 179 pounds cotton 
lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,780,607, personal 
property $980,420, total $2,716,027. State taxes $1,429.09, 
countv taxes $8,054.74, school taxes $8,266 .53. Live stock- 
Horses 2,358, mules 979, cattle 6,538, hogs 22,089, sheep 2,606. 
Public schools 56, white 26, colored 30. Churches 18. 



HALIFAX. 

Halifax county lies between the Roanoke river on the north 
and Fishing creek, one of the confluents of the Tar river, on 
the south. The eastern and larger part of this county belongs 
to the normal type of upland piny woods, the western third 
to the oak uplands. Long-leaf and short-leaf pines are com- 
monly mingled with a subordinate growth of oaks, hickory, 
dogwood, etc. The surface is generally level or a little rolliug, 
with small, often abrupt, hills and ravines near the streams. 
The soil is a gray, sandy loam, with a yellow to- brown sub- 
soil. The creeks and larger streams nearly all flow southward 
into the Tar river, the water-shed, according to a curious topo- 
graphical law previously referred to, lying quite close to the 
south bank of the Roanoke. The western section belongs in 
large part to the oak uplands region, having its characteristic 
gray, yellow, and reddish clay loam and sandy loam soils and 
rolling surface and predominant oak forests, with an intermix- 
ture of short- leaf pine. The crops of this section are largely 
grains (corn, wheat, etc.) and tobacco. The bulk of the cot- 
ton product is made in the eastern section. 

The streams in the eastern section have often narrow, swampy 
tracts of gum and cypress along their margins, but there are 
extensive alluvial areas or bottoms on the larger rivers, espe- 
cially the Roanoke, whose bottoms are of unsurpassed fertility. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 87 



In the great bend of Scotland IMeck are some of the finest 
cotton lands of the State. Marl is abundant in the middle 
and eastern sections. Halifax is one of the most prosperous 
cotton counties, and produces very large crops of grains be- 
sides, chiefly of corn, of which the product is nearly half a 
million bushels. Of the county area 32.12 per cent, is tilled 
land, of which 33.18 oer cent, is cultivated in cotton. 

Population 30,300— White 9,137, colored 21,163. Area 682 
square miles, woodland 178,508 acres. Tilled lands 130,219 
acres, area planted in cotton 43,206 acres, in corn 44,790 acres, 
in wheat 1,300 acres, in oats 4,497 acres. Cotton production 
16,661 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.39 bale, 549 
pounds seed-cotton, or 183 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
aggregate value $2,448, 140, personal property $1,117,318, total 
$3,565,458. State taxes $2,539.40, county taxes $19,936.73, 
school taxes $11,119.81. Live stock — Horses 2,313, mules 
1,650, cattle 9,987, hogs 23,372, sheep 2,552. Public schools 
62, white 24, colored 38. Churches 40. 



NASH. 

The general topographical and agricultural features of Nash 
county correspond quite closely to those of Halifax, to which 
its situation is similar. It lies south of that county, and also 
on the borders of the oak uplands, to which the western part 
of it belongs. It is drained for the most part by the Tar river 
and its numerous tributaries, along which are narrow strips of 
alluvial soil, with oak forests and occasional cypress swamps. 
The divides between these streams through the middle and 
eastern portions of the county belong to the region of level 
upland piny woods, the growth being a mixture of long-leaf 
and short-leaf pine, with oak, hickory, dogwood, etc. These 
soils are well adapted to the culture of cotton, and are of aver- 
age fertility. The soils in many places in the western section 
are red or yellowish clay loams. This county lies largely 
within the area of the most productive cotton section of the 
State; the corn and potato crops are also important. Marl is 
abundant in the eastern part, but has not been extensively 
used. Of the county area 21.60 per cent, is tilled land, of 
which 31.33 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 

Population 17,731— White 9,417, colored 8,314. Area 595 
square miles, woodland 193,247 acres. Tilled lands 82,238 
acres, area planted in cotton 25,768 acres, in tobacco 27 acres, 



Ii 



88^ HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

in corn 32,490 acres, in wheat 3,787 acres, in oats 3,875 acres. 
Cotton production 12,567 bales, average cotton product per 
acre 0.49 bale, 696 pounds seed-cotton, or 232 pounds cotton 
lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,798,295, personal 
property $831,630, total '"$2^629, 925. State taxes $900.54, 
county taxes $11,031.38, school taxes $7,598.45. Live stock — 
Horses 1,445, mules 1,274, cattle 6,485, hogs 21,674, sheep 
5,879. Public schools 82, white 46, colored 36. Churches 19. 



EDGECOMBE. 

Edgecombe is a typical county of the long-leaf pine region. 
It is traversed through its middle portion by the Tar river, and 
is drained by its numerous tributaries. The soils are charac- 
teristically gray sandy loams, with a yellow to brown subsoil, 
and belong to the region of level piny uplands. Along the 
borders of the various streams are frequent and extensive tracts 
of alluvial lands, and on some oi them occur cypress and gum 
swamps. This is one of the leading cotton counties of the 
State, and on the percentage cotton map it will be seen to 
occupy the centre of one of the zones of greatest production. 
It stands second among the counties of the State in its product 
of cotton, and its corn crop is also among the largest. The 
long leaf pines, which were once found abundant over the 
whole surface of this county (and region) have been thinned 
until they are a subordinate element, so that the remaining 
forests aie mainly of short-leaf pine and oak. 

Both commercial fertilizers and the native marls have been 
more largely used than elsewhere in the State, and, in connec- 
tion with compost, most effectively, so that Edgecombe has 
long been foremost in this special agriculture of the east. Of 
the county area, 36.62 per cent, is tilled land, 39.27 per cent, 
of the iatter being cultivated in cotton. It has the advantage 
of both river and railroad transportation. 

Population 26,181— White 7.968, colored 18,213. Area 567 
square miles, woodland 125,083 acres. Tilled lands 132,875 
acres, area planted in cotton 51,880 acres, in corn 46,235 acres, 
in wheat 2,422 acres, in oats 9,589 acres. Cotton production 
26,250 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.51 bale, 720 
pounds seed-cotton or 240 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
aggregate value $2,731,791. personal property $1,762,750, total 
$4,495,541. State taxes $3,905.44. Live stock— Horses 1.821, 
mules 2,612, cattle 5,705, hogs 22,100, sheep 2,720. Public 
schools 57, white 20, colored 37. Churches 36. 



DESCRIPTIONS OP COUNTIES. 89 



PITT. 

The description of Edgecombe county applies, with scarcely 
a change, to this county also. TLe only mentionable differ- 
ence is that it contains perhaps a larger proportion of swampy 
lands, both along the Tar river and its main tributaries and 
the two Contentnfas. The body of its area is the normal level, 
upland, pioy woods, with their usual soils and forests. It is 
also one of the best cotton counties, and its grain crop is larger 
in proportion than that of most of the cotton counties, exceed- 
ing 500,000 bushels. Its product of rice and potatoes is also 
of considerable importance. Marl is abundant, and is used 
with the best results, as in Edgecombe. Of the county area, 
24.57 per cent, is tilled land, and 30.15 per cent, of the latter 
is cultivated in cotton. 

Population 21,794— White 10,794, colored 11,090. Area 
657 square miles, woodland 217,222 acres. Tilled lands 
103,302 acres, area planted in cotton 31,147 acres, in corn 
46,482 acres, in wheat 3,787 acres, in rye 284 acres, in oats 3, 301 
acres. Cotton production 14,879 bales, average cotton product 
per acre 0.48 bale, 681 pounds seed cotton, or 227 pounds cot- 
ton lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,903,191, personal 
property $1,299,087, total $3,202,278. State taxes $2,223.22, 
county taxes $11,602.29, school taxes $10,520.01. Live stock 
—Horses 2,628, mules 1,593, cattle 9,809, hogs 32,571, sheep 
2,683. Public schools 95, white 54, colored 41. Churches 36. 



GREENE. 

The small county of Greene, adjoining Pitt on the south, 
and drained by the Contentnea (which crosses it through the 
middle) and its numerous tributaries, has the same general fea- 
tures, both as to its natural characteristics and as to the devel- 
opment of its agriculture, as Edgecjmbe county, but there are 
considerable areas of sandy pine lands and pine flats in the 
eastern angle and in the southern section. Its streams are also 
for the most part bordered by narrow fringes of alluvial land 
and of gum and cypress swamps. It has also along the courses 
of some of its tributaries considerable tracts of semi-swamp 
land, characterized by a dark gray loam of great fertility, 
notably Lousin swamp, near the southern border. Like the 
preceding counties, Greene finds marl and compost essential 
to successful cotton farming. There are still considerable 



90 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

areas of pine and cypress timber in the county. Of the 
county area, 45.65 per cent, is tilled land, of which 22,63 per 
cent, is cultivated in cotton. 

Population 10,037— White 4,652, colored 5,385. Area 257 
square miles, woodland, 82,432 acres. Tilled lands 75,084 
acres, area planted in cotton 16,988 acres, in corn 25,148 acres, 
in wheat 3,638 acres, in rye 394 acres, in oats 1,738 acres. 
Cotton production 8,020 bales, average cotton product per 
acre 0.47 bale, 672 pounds seed-cotton, or 224 pounds cotton 
lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,075,559, personal 
property $625,865, 'total $1,701,424. State taxes $1,034.82, 
county taxes $10,673.30, school taxes $5,363.44. Live stock — 
Horses 1,096, mules 909, cattle 1,675, hogs 13,939, sheep 643. 
Churches 25. 



MARTIN. 

Martin county is bordered on the north by the very tortuous 
course of the Roanoke river, the tributary waters of which for 
the most part drain it northward into that river. The larger 
part of its territory belongs to the region of level piny uplands, 
having a gray sandy loam soil. The higher ridge land, near 
the south bank of the Roanoke river, has a soil lighter and 
more sandy, and is characterized by a considerable admixture 
of long-leaf pine, and the average proportion of oaks and 
short-leaf pine, etc. Along the Roanoke and some of its 
tributaries there are extensive bottoms or alluvial lands, and 
about the head streams of its tributaries considerable tracts of 
swamp land. 

The agriculture of the county corresponds in its main feat- 
ures to that of Edgecombe and the adjacent counties, but its 
soils are less productive, and its agriculture is less advanced 
partly because of its large and profitable lumber industry in 
the great cypress swamps of the Roanoke. Marl is abundant 
and is used to a moderate extent. Of the county area 18.28 per 
cent, is tilled land, of which 23.67 is cultivated in cotton. 

Population 13,140— White 6,661, colored 6.479. Area 482 
square miles, woodland 175,116 acres. Tilled lands 56,377 
acres, area planted in cotton 13,444 acres, in corn 24,209 acres, 
in wheat 940 acres, in oats 1,447 acres. Cotton production 
6,383 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.47 bale, 678 
pounds seed-cotton, or 226 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
aggregate value $1,177,891, personal property $694,452, total 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 91 

$1,872,343. State taxes $977.64, county taxes $10,905.05, 
school taxes $5,430.62. Live stock— Horses 1,189, mules 805, 
cattle 5,563, hogs 18,197, sheep 2,960. Public schools 59, 
white 35, colored 24. Churches 22. 



WILSON. 

Wilson county lies on the western border of the long-leaf 
pine belt, and its soils belong almost exclusively to the region 
of level upland piny woods, and correspond to those of Edge- 
combe. This county is traversed by numerous streams, the 
most notable of which is the Contentnea, along which, as well 
as its tributaries, are found considerable tracts of alluvial land 
and swamps (gum and cypress). In all respects the agricul- 
ture of this county repeats that of Edgecombe both as to prac- 
tice and as to results. It will be seen, by reference to the cot- 
ton percentage map, that this territory also belongs to the 
region of highest production. Marl is found in the eastern 
half of the county. Of the county area, 27.12 per cent, is 
tilled land, of which 36.33 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 

Population 16,064— White 8,655, colored 7,409. Area 376 
square miles, woodland 114.530 acres. Tilled lands 65,255 
acres, area planted in cotton 23,706 acres, in corn 27,288 acres, 
in wheat 2,804 acres, in oats 1,590 acres. Cotton production 
13,049 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.55 bale, 783 
pounds seed-cotton, or 261 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
aggregate value $1,980,206, personal property $1,463,224, total 
$3,443,430. State taxes $2,055.47, county taxes $12,553.09, 
school taxes $9,896.04. Live stock — Horses 1,388, mules 
1,505, cattle 3,472, hogs 20,463, sheep 2,246. Public schools 
68, white 40, colored 28. Churches 25. 



JOHNSTON. 

Johnston countv lies on the upper waters of the Neuse river 
and its larger tributaries, which traverse it in a southeast 
direction, and consists for the most part of level and gently 
rolling piny uplands, with a few small bodies of more sandy 
and barren pine lands. It lies on the western margin of the 
long-leaf pine region, its southeastern half being characterized 
in its general features by the same soils and growth as the 
average of that belt, while along the northwestern margin the 



92 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

lauds are more hilly and the piny belts are alternated along 
the streams and more hilly portions with oak and pine forests 
and gravelly loam soils. There are tracts of quite sandy soil 
in the eastern section, while in the middle section are large 
bodies of pine flats. Johnston is one of the most prosperous 
counties, as besides its large cotton crops the grain product 
reaches nearly 500,000 bushels, and its crop of potatoes exceeds 
200,000 bushels. Of the county area 23.68 per cent, is tilled 
land, of which 80.83 p^r cent, is cultivated in cotton. 

Population 23,461— White 15,996, colored 7,645. Area 689 
square miles, woodland 29,966 acres. Tilled lands 104,407 
acres, area planted in cotton 32,193 acres, in tobacco 36 acres, 
in corn 45,045 acres, in wheat 3,711 acres, in rye 324 acres, in 
oats 3,176 acres. Cotton production 15,151 bales, average cot- 
ton product per acre 0.47 bale, 672 pounds seed-cotton, or 224 
pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $2,641,- 
219, personal property $1,337,465, total $3,978,684. State taxes 
$1,971.22, county taxes $14,999.78, school taxes $10,696.43. 
Live stock — Horses 2,076, mules 1,891, cattle 9,900, hogs 
40,373, sheep 8,684. Public schools 95, white 67, colored 28. 
Churches 46. 



WAYNE. 

Wayne county lies eastward of Johnston county, south of 
Wilson couuty, and west of Greene, on the waters of the 
Neuse, which crosses its middle portion and drains almost the 
whole of it directly and by its tributaries. This county resem- 
bles in all respects the adjoining counties already described. 
Along the Neuse river and some of the other streams are con- 
siderable bodies of alluvial land and semi-swamp, and not 
infrequently fringes of cypress and gum swamp Along the 
south bank of the Neuse is a narrow zone of pine barrens, con- 
forming in its ceneral trend to the curves of that river, and 
having a breadth of from 1 to 3 miles. Both this county and 
Johnston have still considerable areas of turpentine and timber 
lands. 

The cotton and grain products of Wayne county are large, 
and those of rice and potatoes are considerable. There is an 
abundance of marl, and it has been used very profitably in 
former years; but latterly, as in the cotton region generally, 
commercial fertilizers have usurped the place of nearly all 
others. Of the county area 31.74 per cent, is tilled land, of 
which 26.29 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 93 

Population 24, 951— White 12, 827, colored 12, 124. Area 601 
square railos, woodland 188,130 acres. Tilled lands 122,102 
acres, area planted in cotton 32,103 acres, in tobacco 198 acres, 
in corn 44,469 acres, in wheat 7,041 acres, in rye 819 acres, in 
oats 1,779 acres. Cotton production 14,558 bales, average 
cotton product per acre 0.45 bale, 645 pounds seed-cotton, or 
215 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value 
$2,805,805, personal property $1,678,279, total 14,484,084. 
State taxes $2,955.69, county taxes $11,879.26, school taxes 
$12,167.20. Live stock— Horses 2,280, mules 1,720, cattle 
6,542, hogs 30,122, sheep 2,420. Public schools 80, white 42, 
colored 38. Churches 56. 



LENOIR. 

Lenoir county lies on the lower course of the Neuse, east of 
Wayne. The northern half consists of level piny uplands of 
the same character as those of the counties adjoining it on the 
north, having narrow tracts of swamp land along its water- 
courses, while in its western and northern parts there are wide 
tracts of level semi-swamp lands, which are characterized by a 
dark, fine gray loam of great fertility. The southern half of 
the county, south of the Neuse, is characterized generally by a 
more sandy soil, and on the higher divides between the streams 
by narrow zones of pine barrens. The water-courses in this 
half of the county are also bordered by cypress and gum 
swamps, and to some extent by oak and pine flats. Shell marl 
(blue), chalk marl, and green sand are all found in this county, 
one or the other in almost every neighborhood. Of the county 
area 28.72 per cent, is tilled land, of which 22.82 per cent, is 
cultivated in cotton. Means of transportation are furnished 
by steamboat and railroad to Newbern, Wilmington and Nor- 
folk. 

Population 15,344— White 7,277, colored 8,067. Area 457 
square miles, woodland 122,571 acres. Tilled lands 83,943 
acres, area planted in cotton 19,150 acres, in corn. 29,838 acres, 
in wheat 5,067 acres, in rye 685 acres, in oats 1,060 acres. 
Cotton production 8,235 bales, average cottun product per 
acre 0.43 bale, 612 pounds seed-cotton, or 204 pounds cotton 
lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,551,067, personal 
property $836,919, total $2,387 986, State taxes $1,530.76, 
county taxes $12,745:38, school taxes $6,987.32. Live stock 
—Horses 311, mules 1,023, cattle 3,189, hogs 17,101, sheep 
1,771. Public schools 65, white 36, colored 29. Churches 21. 



94 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



DUPLIN. 

Duplin county lies southward of the two preceding counties, 
and partakes of their general topographical and agricultural 
features. It is drained by Northeast Cape Fear river, which 
flows southward through its middle section, and both this and 
the numerous tributaries are bordered by belts of alluvial and 
often swampy lands. Near its northern and eastern borders are 
two small pocosons, and within its southern section lies one- 
half of the great Angola Bay pocoson, an almost impenetrable 
jungle of the average character of pocoson lands, with fringes 
of rich swamp lands on the streams that issue from it. This 
pocoson is flanked on the westward toward the Northeast Cape 
Fear river by a fringe of fertile white-oak flats and semi- 
swamp lands. Between the tributaries of the river, on the 
divides, are several tracts of sandy pine hills, which are very 
unproductive. The cotton lands, which are of limited extent, 
are the level piny woods of the usual description; but corn is 
a more valuable crop, and the product of potatoes and rice 
is of considerable importance. The county has still valua- 
ble resources in timber and turpentine lands. Marl (blue and 
white) is abundant, though but little used. Of the county 
area, 13.02 per cent, is tilled land, of which 13.93 per cent, is 
in cotton. 

Population 18,773— White 10,587, colored 8,186. Area 832 
square miles, woodland 288,505 acres. Tilled lands 69,314 
acres, area planted in cotton 9,654 acres, in corn 36,813 acres, 
in wheat 1,031 acres, in rye 422 acres, in oats 433 acres. Cot- 
ton production 4,499 bales, average cotton product per acre 
0.47 bale, 663 pounds seed-cotton or 221 pounds, cotton lint. 
Real property, aggregate value $964,428, personal property 
$645,106, total $1,609,534. State taxes$l, 057.00, county taxes 
$5,932.73, school taxes $5,824.10. Live stock— Horses 1,781, 
mules 644, cattle 9,664, hogs 30,179, sheep 7,371. Public 
schools 68, white 37, colored 31. Chinches 32. 



SAMPSON. 



Sampson county lies in the middle of the long leaf pine 
belt, and much the larger part of its territory represents the 
average character of the soils and forests of that belt. It is 
drained by South river, one of the principal tributaries of the 
Cape Fear, whose streams divide its territory into north and 



DESCRIPTIONS OP COUNTIES. 95 

south lying belts or zones — flattish swells, the higher portions 
of which are characterized by sandy soils and forests predomi- 
nantly of long-leaf pine. In places near the southern and 
western margins, and again near the northern end, there are 
tracts which are quite sandy and approach the character of 
pine barrens. There are also extensive pine flats, especially on 
the waters of Six Runs, with here and there considerable 
bodies of pine and oak flats. 

The corn crop of the county is much more important than 
that of cotton, reaching nearly 500,000 bushels, and the crops 
of potatoes and rice are both unusually large. There are also 
large bodies of virgin pine timber, still valuable both for tur- 
pentine and for lumber. Marl is abundant, and is used with 
the best results in some sections, chiefly the northern. Of the 
county area, 18.95 per cent, is tilled land, of which 13.13 per 
cent, is cultivated in cotton. 

Population 22,894— White 13,347, colored 9,547. Area 964 
square miles, woodland 374,576 acres. Tilled lands 116,892 
acres, area planted in cotton 15,346 acres, in tobacco 28 acres, 
in corn 53,951 acres, in wheat 1,249 acres, in rye 409 acres, in 
oats 654 acres. Cotton production 6,291 bales, average cotton 
product per acre 0.41 bale, 585 pounds seed-cotton, or 195 
pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,399,638, 
personal property $835,769, total $2,235,407. State taxes 
$612.62, county taxes $9,538.92, school taxes $6,849.61. Live 
stock— horses 1,973, mules 1,270, cattle 10,239, hogs 37,802, 
sheep 8,934. Public schools 85, white 51, colored 34. 
Churches 26. 



CUMBERLAND. 

Through the middle of Cumberland county, from its western 
margin, on the Moore county line, to the Cape Fear river, 
which crosses the eastern side of the county, lies a broad, 
irregular zone of pine barrens with a very sandy and unpro- 
ductive soil and an almost exclusive growth of long-leaf pine. 
On both sides of this zone, along the northern and southern 
sections of the county, with unimportant exceptions, and in 
the section eastward of the Cape Fear river, the soils belong to 
the class of gray sandy loams of the average upland piny 
woods. Near the river, on both sides, are large tracts of semi- 
swamp and oak and pine flats, which are very productive. 
Many Of the streams which flow from the central pine barrens 



06 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

of the county contain narrow fringes of gum and cypress 
swamp, and the swampy tracts along the river often contain a 
considerable percentage of cypress. The turpentine and lum- 
ber interests are still important. Of the county area 8.63 per 
cent, is tilled land, of which 16.98 per cent, is cultivated in 
cotton. 

Population 23,836— White 12,594, colored 11,242. Area 982 
square miles, woodland 294,178 acres. Tilled lands 54,238 
acres, area planted in cotton 9,210 acres, in corn 32,677 acres, 
in wheat 1,141 acres, in rye 1,513 acres, in oats 1.509 acres. Cot- 
ton production 3,905 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.42 
bale, 603 pounds seed-cotton, or 201 pounds cotton lint. Real 
property, aggregate value $2,114,598, personal property 
11,068,386, total $3,182,984. State taxes $1,564.98, county 
taxes $19,222.50, school taxes $11,082.35. Live stock- 
Horses 1,482, mules 1,322, cattle 8,078, hogs 25.220, sheep 
7,620. Public schools 89, white 54, colored 35. Churches 57. 



HARNETT. 

Harnett county lies on both sides of the Cape Fear river, on 
the northwestern margin of the long-leaf pine belt. Near the 
river and for several miles on both sides, its surface is quite 
hilly in its upper portion, and here the soil is of the interme- 
diate character described as oak and pine sandy and gravelly 
hills. On the tops of the ridges and river hills these soils are 
gray sandy loams; but on the slopes they approach the charac- 
ter of clay loams, and are covered mainly with forests of oak 
and short-leaf pine. The body of the county belongs strictly 
to the long-leaf pine belt, and has the general characteristics 
of that region. The western section, as well as a narrow belt 
in the middle, near the south bank of the river and some por- 
tions of the south side, partakes :n part of the character of the 
pine barrens. Near the river, and along its principal tributa- 
ries from the west, and in the angles between these and the 
river, are wide tracts of gray, clayey, silty lands (oak and pine 
flats) and occasional narrow strips of gum and cypress swamp. 
Cotton production is the principal industry of the county, but 
grain, lumber and turpentine are also important products. Of 
the county area, 10.96 per cent, is tilled land, of which 22.01 
per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 

Population 10,862— White 7,092, colored 3,770. Area 601 
square miles, woodland 175,096 acres. Tilled lands 42,173 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 97 



acres, area planted in cotton 9,281 acres, in tobacco 32 acres, 
in corn 21,244 acres, in wheat 2,393 acres, in rye 489 acres, in 
oats 1,202 acres. Cotton production 3,627 bales, average cot- 
ton product per acre 0.39 bale, 558 pounds seed cotton or 186 
pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value, $698,821, 
personal property $328,979, total $1,027,800. State taxes 
$267.10, county taxes $4,589.18, school taxes $3,096.56. Live 
stock — Horses 746, mules 751, cattle 5,696, hogs 13,773, sheep 
5,953. Churches 22. 



MOORE. 

Moore county lies on the western margin of the long-Jeaf 
pine belt. Its middle and southern portion belongs largely to 
the class of lands called pine barrens or "sand hills." The 
northern part of this triangular territory partakes more of the 
character of the oak uplands agricultural division, being very 
hilly and broken, with sandy and gravelly soil on the higher 
ridges, having a mixed oak and pine growth, and on the slopes 
of the hills partaking of the character of clay loams. 

Near the middle (a little north of east), as well as in the 
southwestern region, and in the eastern one, are considerable 
bodies of level and rolling upland piny woods. These are the 
best cotton soils. The tributaries of the Cape Fear, which 
rise along the southeastern section of the county, are fringed 
with gum, cypress and juniper swamps, and on many of the 
streams, large and small, are patches, and sometimes consider- 
able tracts, of alluvial "bottom" lands. The agriculture of 
the county is divided between cotton and grain crops; but the 
lumber and turpentine interests are quite important, and there 
are yet large turpentine forests untouched. 

Of the county area, 13.32 per cent, is tilled land, of which 
12.91 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 

Population 16,821— White 11,485, colored 5,336. Area 807 
square miles, woodland 281,934 acres. Tilled lands 68,780 
acres, area planted in cotton 8,882 acres, in tobacco 70 acres, 
in corn 27,934 acres, in wheat 11,242 acres, in rye 1,512 acres, 
in oats 7,924 acres. Cotton production 3,988 bales, average 
cotton product per acre 0.45 bale, 639 pounds seed-cotton, or 
213 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value 
$1,339,793, personal property $825,975,' total $2,165,768. 
State taxes $884.58, school taxes 5,667.03. Live stock-^-- 
Horses 1,850, mules 1,414, cattle 9,739, hogs 16,587, sheep 
12,019. Public schools 9'S, white 60, colored 35. 

5 



98 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



RICHMOND. 

Richmond county also lies on the border of the long-leaf 
pine belt, its eastern and southern portions, forming not less 
than three-fourths of its territory, belonging to the latter, while 
its western and northern parts, lying along and near the G-reat 
Pee Dee river, belong more properly in their agricultural features 
to the zone of oak and pine sandy hills, being quite hilly, and 
in some places rugged. The slopes of the hills on the river 
front and its tributaries are quite steep and broken, and have 
a clay loam soil, which is covered by oak and short-leaf pine 
forests. In the northwestern corner, on the Pee Dee and its 
tributaries, are wide tracts of level gray loam soils, originally 
covered with heavy oak forests. Through the eastern portion 
of the county, in a north and south direction, lies a consider- 
able tract of pine barrens, which is very sandy and unproduc- 
tive. The streams which drain the southeastern section of the 
county (one-third of its territory) flow into Lumber river, and 
are margined through their whole course by alluvial tracts and 
cypress swamps, the divides between these parallel and south- 
flowing streams being occupied by level upland piny-woods 
tracts having a gray sandy loam soil of fair productiveness. 
Cotton is the chief single interest, but, the product of grain is 
large, and the turpentine and lumber* interests are still impor- 
tant. Of the county area, 14.24 per cent, is tilled 'land, of 
which 33.48 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 

Population 18,245— White 8,141, colored 10,104. Area 826 
square miles, woodland 216,096 acres. Tilled lands 75.268 acres, 
area planted in cotton 25,198 acres, in corn 29,502 acres, in 
wheat 3,751 acres, in rye 942 acres, in oats 3,571 acres. Cot- 
ton production 12,754 bales, average cotton product per acre, 
0.51 bale, 720 pounds seed-cotton, or 240 pounds cotton lint. 
Real property, aggregate value $1,345,743, personal propertv 
$970,717, total $2,416,460. State taxes $1,329.37, county 
taxes $11,032.29, school taxes $6,319.59. Live stock— Horses 
1,246, mules 1,502, cattle 5,946, hogs 12.067, sheep 2,657. 
Public schools 72, white 43, colored 29. Churches 32. 



ROBESON. 

The soils of Robeson county are mainly those of the ordi 
nary level piny woo.ds, but there are belts of gum and cypress 
swamp along nearly all of its water-courses, those on the two 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 99 

main streams being quite large. The county is drained by the 
upper waters of Lumber river, which enters the Atlantic 
through the State of South Carolina at Georgetown. On the 
higher divides between the streams the soil is sometimes quite 
sandy, in some places reaching the character of pine barrens. 
The lands are chiefly devoted to the culture of cotton and 
corn, but the value of the potato and rice crops is quite con- 
siderable. Turpentine and lumber are also large interests. 
Marl is found abundantly in the lower half of the county. Of 
the county area, 15.50 per cent, is tilled land, of which 20.96 
per cent, is cultivated in cotton. Shipments are made by rail 
to Wilmington. 

Population 23,880— White 11,942, colored 11,938. Area 
1,039 square miles, woodland 383.093 acres. Tilled lands 
103,055 acres, area planted in cotton 21,607 acres, in corn 
49,961 acres, in wheat 875 acres, in rye 1,548 acres, in oats 
2,814 acres. Cotton production 8,846 bales, average cotton 
product per acre, 0.41 bale, 582 pounds seed-cotton, or 194 
pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $2,451,255, 
personal property $1,078,311, total $3,529,566. State taxes 
$947.63, county taxes $11,897.37, school taxes $9,577.74. 
Live stock — Horses 1,834, mules 2,058, cattle 9,952, hogs 
32,082, sheep 8,475. Public schools 122, white 67, colored 55. 
Churches 53. 



BLADEN. 

Bladen county lies south of Cumberland, and, like it, on both 
sides of the Cape Fear river. It has narrow zones of pine 
barrens running parallel to the river courses nearly the whole 
length of the county, and it also abounds in cypress swamps 
and alluvial "bottoms" along its streams. There are also 
large bodies of level piny woods. Marl is found in the bluffs 
of the river. On many of the streams are extensive bodies of 
gum and cypress swamps. This county has a very limited 
agriculture, the chief crop being corn ; and very little cotton 
is produced, turpentine and lumber being still among the chief 
interests. Of the county area, only 5.79 per cent, is tilled 
land, of which 4.26 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 

Population 16,158— White 7,598, colored 8,560. Area 1,026 
square miles, woodland 297,237 acres. Tilled lands 37,990 
acres, area planted in cotton 1,618 acres, in corn 21,556 acres, 
in wheat 109 acres, in oats 362 acres. Cotton production 683 



100 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

bales, average cottou product per acre, 0.42 bale, 603 pounds 
seed-cotton, or 201 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggre- 
gate value $1,052,601, personal property $665,905, total 
$1,718,506. State taxes $388.38, county taxes $5,235.37, 
school taxes $2,995.13. Live stock— Horses 718, mules 679, 
cattle 8,937, hogs 21,368, sheep 5,686. Public schools 58, 
white 26, colored 32. Churches 26. 



OAK UPLANDS, OR METAMORPHIC REGION. 

(This region embraces the following counties and. parts 
of counties: Warren, Franklin, Vance, Granville, 
Wake, Durham, Orange, Chatham, Montgomery, Anson, 
Union, Stanly, Davidson, Rowan, Cabarrus, Mecklen- 
burg, Iredell, Catawba, Lincoln, Gaston, Cleveland, 
Rutherford, Randolph, Guilford, Alamance, Person, 
Caswell, Rockingham, Stokes, Forsyth, Davie, Yadkin, 
Surry, Wilkes, Alexander, Caldwell, Burke, McDowell, 
and Polk). 

WARREN. 

Warren county lies on the northern border of the State, and 
is bounded in part by the Roanoke river, the tributaries of 
which drain about one-half of its territory, the southern half 
being drained by the Tar river. Through the middle of the 
county, along the divide between these rivers, lies a wide, 
level, and undulating tract, with forests of oak and short-leaf 
pine, hickory, dogwood, etc., having generally a soil of the 
class of gray and yellowish gravelly and sandy loam, and fre- 
quently belts of red clay loam. Northward and southward the 
land becomes more hilly, and near the streams the soil is more 
clayey and often reddish in color. Many of these streams are 
bordered by narrow strips of level bottom land. The tribu- 
taries of the Tar on the southern side are separated by wide 
tracts of nearly level oak uplands, and are bordered by exten- 
sive bottoms. This portion of the county is also less broken 
than the northern. The agriculture of the county is divided 
between the production of cotton, tobacco, and the cereals ; 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 101 

but the vine and the peach flourish, especially in the northern 
and western sections lying within the hill country. The west- 
ern border of the county rises to an elevation of 500 feet, so 
that there is abundant water-power developed by the fall of its 
numerous streams, many of which leave its territory at an ele- 
vation of less than 200 feet. Gold mining has been a profita- 
ble industry in the southern corner of the county and the 
neighboring parts of Halifax, Nash, and Franklin. 

Of the county area, 25.84 per cent, is tilled land, of which 
25.76 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. Transportation to mar- 
ket is furnished by railroad to Raleigh, Norfolk, and New 
York. 

Population 22,619— White 6,386, colored 16,233. Area 507 
square miles, woodland 140,528 acres. Tilled lands 83,864 
acres, area planted in cotton 21,603 acres, in tobacco 1,759 
acres, in corn 28,457 acres, in wheat 5,098 acres, in oats 5,559 
acres. Cotton production 7,778 bales, average cotton product 
per acre 0.36 bale, 513 pounds seed-cotton, or 171 pounds cot- 
ton lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,198,012, personal 
property $585,277, total $1,783,289. State taxes $574.06, 
county taxes $11,459.33, school taxes $4,301.35. Live stock — 
Horses 1,561, mules 422, cattle 7,736, hogs 12,104, sheep 3,019. 
Public schools 62, white 30, colored 32. Churches 23. 



FRANKLIN 

Franklin county lies south of Warren, and corresponds very 
nearly in all its agricultural and topographical features with 
the description of that county. The eastern, and especially 
the southeastern sections contain a considerable proportion of 
long-leaf pine as a constituent of the forests. This county is 
drained by Tar river and its tributaries. The middle portion 
belongs to the region of oak and pine gravelly and sandy hills, 
and the western end rises into the oak uplands. The large 
cotton product of this county is of recent date, but here and 
in the adjoining counties it has greatly increased in the last 
dozen years. The western half is largely devoted to the cul- 
ture of tobacco. Of the county area, 25.99 per cent, is tilled 
land, of which 34.60 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 

Population 20,829— White 9,476, colored 11,353. Area 526 
square miles, woodland 146,604 acres. Tilled lands 87,492 
acres, area planted in cotton 30,274 acres, in tobacco 118 acres, 
in corn 32,642 acres, in wheat 8,362 acres, in oats 5,560 acres. 



102 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Cotton production 12,938 bales, average cotton product per 
acre 0.43 bale, 609 pounds seed-cotton, or 203 pounds cotton 
lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,803,778, personal 
property $739,724, total $2,543,502. State taxes $757.24, 
county taxes $14,854.06, school taxes $6,995.26 Live stock — 
Horses 1,695, mules 954, cattle 7,896, hogs 16,114, sheep 5,641. 
Public schools 91, white 37, colored 54. Churches 43. 



GRANVILLE. 

Granville county lies on the Virginia border west of the two 
preceding counties, and is drained partly toward the north by 
the tributaries of the Roanoke and partly (in its middle region) 
by the Tar and in its southern portions by the Reuse. In its 
central and higher portions, where it is 500 feet above tide, 
it is comparatively level and rolling, and has for the most part, 
a gray gravelly loam soil, with here and there small tracts of 
red clay. Among the most productive soils is a level body of 
oak and hickory land in the northern section with a dark grav- 
elly-loam soil. Smaller tracts of similar character occur near 
the middle, and also on the southern border. The southern 
portion of the county, along the divide between the waters of 
the Tar and Reuse rivers, is another comparatively level bench 
of land, belonging mainly to the class of gray sandy loams, 
derived in large part from the underlying Triassic rocks (red- 
sandstone). These alternate' with gray-gravelly loams. The 
forests are of oaks, hickory, and dogwood, intermingled with 
short-leaf pine. The principal agricultural product of this 
county is the gold-leaf tobacco, which is the largest crop in 
the State — more than 4,500,000 pounds. 

The gray and light-colored granite soils of the eastern, mid- 
dle and western sections, as well as the last-named (Triassic) 
soils, are noted for the high grade of tobacco which they pro- 
duce. This is also a large grain-growing county, its aggre- 
gate reaching nearly 750,000 bushels. Of the county area 
32.61 per cent, is under tillage, of which 4.52 per cent, is cul- 
tivated in cotton. 

Population 31,286— White 13,603, colored 17,683. Area 695 
square miles, woodland 161,089 acres. Tilled lands 145,036 
acres, area planted in cotton 6,559 acres, in tobacco 8,941 acres, 
in corn 42,608 acres, in wheat 14,428 acf-es, in oats 14,344 
acres. Cotton production 2,535 bales, average cotton product 
per acre 0.39 bale, 552 pounds seed-cotton, or 184 pounds cotton 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 103 

lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,864,196, personal prop- 
erty $1,310,926, total $3,175,122, State taxes $1,179.10, county 
taxes $17,117.03, school taxes $7,682.40. Live stock— Horses 
2,767, mules 923, cattle 8,359, hogs 16,470, sheep 7,831. 
Public schools 61, white 28, colored 33. Churches 42. 



VANCE. 

For description of this county see Granville. 

Real property, aggregate value $1,124,169, personal prop- 
erty $750,727, total $1,874,896. State taxes $1,812. 19, county 
taxes $13,339.23, school taxes $5,154.12. Live stock — Horses 
1,414, mules 370, cattle 4,460, hogs 8,496, sheep 2,235. Pub- 
lic schools 43, white 18, colored 25. Churches 15. 



WAKE. 

Wake county in which the capital of the State is situated, 
is one of the largest counties in the State, and shows the 
largest product of cotton. It is drained by the tributaries of 
the Neuse, and lies on the eastern margin of the oak uplands, 
its southern and eastern sections partaking of the agricultural 
features of the oak and pine gravelly hills, the forests being 
made up of long-leaf and short-leaf pines, oaks, hickories, 
dogwoods, etc. The northern portion of the county, as well 
as the western, is quite hilly and broken in surface, especially 
along the streams, and the soils are predominantly gray and yel- 
low sandy and gravelly loams, with occasional areas of red-clay 
soils. Cotton is the chief crop of the county, but the northwest- 
ern section adds to this industry the production of tobacco. The 
culture of corn is also a large feature in its agriculture, and in 
this crop Wake also stands first, exceeding 600,000 bushels, 
which, with the small grains added, would nearly reach 800,- 
000 bushels. In elevation and surface features Wake resembles 
the counties last described, the levels ranging between 300 and 
500 feet above the sea. 

The product of cotton has greatly increased in this county 
(more than fourfold), as well as throughout this region and the 
State, in the last decade, and the fact is mainly due here, as 
elsewhere, to the increased consumption of commerical fertili- 
zers. Of the county area 26.30 per cent, is tilled land, of which 
38.19 r>er cent, is cultivated in cotton. 



104 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Population 47,939— White 24,289, colored 23,650. Area 932 
square miles, woodland 240,004 acres. Tilled lands 156,899 
acres, area planted in cotton 59,91G acres, in tobacco 230 acres, 
in coi n 53,172 acres, in wheat 14.783 acres, in rye 211 acres, 
in oats 13,948 acres. Cotton production 30,115 hales, average 
cotton product per acre 0.50 bale, 717 pounds seed cotton, or 
239 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $6,127,- 
145, personal property $4,482,044, total $10,609,189. State 
taxes $5,312.38, county taxes $39,717.10, school taxes $29,- 
961.29. Live stock— Horses 2,711, mules 2,963, cattle 11,633, 
hogs 31,153, sheep 7,329. Public schools 166, white 87, col- 
ored 79. Churches 75. 

ORANGE. 

Cotton is beginning to enter largely into the agricultural in- 
terests of Orange county, and the product now is five times as 
large as it was in 1870. The upper half of this county is de- 
voted, in large part, to the culture of tobacco, and the whole 
of it to the production of grain crops, of which the aggregate 
exceeds 550,000 bushels. It is traversed in a northeast and 
southwest direction through its middle region by chains of 
slate hills. Its levels lie between 400 and 800 feet above sea- 
levei, the average elevation being about that of the State, viz, 
640 feet. Its southeastern section is drained by the tributaries 
of the Cape Fear river, and has a low, undulating tract of 
land, with gray and yellow sandy and clay loam soils and 
mixed oak and pine forests. The larger part of this county is 
characterized by oak forests and red clay soils, with an inter- 
mixture in the poorer sections and on the slaty hills of short- 
leaf pine. The region described as slate hills is characterized 
mainly by a gray gravelly loam soil. Of the county area, 
19.81 per cent, is under tillage, of which 6.40 per cent, is de- 
voted to cotton. The Universitv is located in this county. 

Population 23,698— White 14,555, colored 9,143. Area 652 
square miles, woodland 130,549 acres. Tilled lands 82,667 
acres, area planted in cotton 5,290 acres, in tobacco 2,323 acres, 
in corn 28,542 acres, in wheat 18,358 acres, in oats 12,243 
acres. Cotton production 1,919 bales, average cotton product 
per acre 0.36 bale, 516 pounds seed-cotton, or 172 pounds cot- 
ton lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,249,375, personal 
property, $745,682, total $1,995,057. State taxes 401.95, 
county taxes $9,044.02, school taxes $4,637.90. Live stock- 
Horses 1,818, mules 676, cattle 5,896, hogs 12,094, sheep 7,018. 
Public schools 55, white 21, colored 34. Churches 31. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 105 



DURHAM. 

For description of this county, see Orange. 

Real property, aggregate value $1,809,840, personal prop- 
erty $2,203,209, total $4,013,049. State taxes $1,770.23,* 
county taxes $11,160.99, school taxes $8,708.78. Live stock- 
Horses 1,327, mules 741, cattle 4,741, hogs 8,592, sheep 2,904. 
Public schools 58, white 33, colored 25. Churches 29. 



CHATHAM. 

Chatham county lies contiguous to the long-leaf pine belt, 
and includes a small strip of it along the southern edge. It is 
drained by the waters of the Cape Fear river, the main afflu- 
ents of which unite near its southeast corner. The principal 
of these, Deep river, has on both sides extensive bottomlands, 
covered with oak and short-leaf pine forests, which are very 
productive. A large part of its surface is hilly and broken, 
especially near the rivers, and in the middle and northeastern 
sections these hills rise to an elevation of from 660 to 700 feet 
above the sea, attaining, in a few cases, the elevation and des- 
ignation of small mountains; the average elevation is 500 feet. 
The soils are for the most part those of the oak uplands, gen- 
erally sandy, gray to yellowish loams, alternating here and 
there with belts of red-clay soil. Toward the southern borders 
occur the sandy and gravelly oak and pine hills. With the 
exceptions noted, the forests consist mostly of oak, hickory, 
etc. Along the eastern margin of the county is a wide, level 
tract of oak and pine lands, with a gray clay loam soil of Tri- 
assic origin. Only a minor portion of Chatham, in the south- 
ern and eastern parts, is devoted to the culture of cotton, grain 
crops constituting its predominant agricultural interest. Its 
corn product exceeds 550,000 bushels, and the total grain crop 
exceeds 800,000 bushels. Its fac lities for manufacturing are 
unsurpassed. Two large and two other considerable rivers 
cross its territory with a fall of from 300 to 400 feet, and de- 
velop a force of more than 40,000 horse-power. Of the county 
area, 22.55 per cent, is tilled land, of which 11.30 per cent, is 
cultivated in cotton. 

Facilities for transportation are ample, both by railway and 
river. 

Population 23,453— White 15,500, colored 7,953. Area 826 
square miles, woodland 212,212 acres. Tilled lands 119,185 



106 HAND-BOOK OF KOETH CAEOLINA. 

acres, area planted in cotton 13,478 acres, in tobacco 141 acres, 
in corn 43,087 acres, in wheat 28,930 acres, in oats 19,861 acres. 
Cotton production 5,858 bales, average cotton product per acre 
0.43 bale, 618 pounds seed-cotton or 206 pounds cotton lint. 
Real property, aggregate value $2,134,276, personal property 
$1,083,930, total $3,218,206. State taxes $483.67, county taxes 
$14,384.14, school taxes $7,839.41. Live stock— Horses 2,951, 
mules 2,165, cattle 13,423, hogs 25,798, sheep 22,742. Public 
schools 122, white 71, colored 51. Churches 74. 



MONTGOMERY. 

In its topographical features Montgomery county may be de- 
scribed in nearly the same terms as Chatham. Several low 
chains of mountains or high ranges of slate hills cross its terri- 
tory in a direction nearly north and south. The county is 
drained by the Yadkin river and two of its chief tributaries, 
the Uwharrie and Little rivers. Its territory, therefore, is quite 
broken in surface. Its soils are mostly sandy and gravelly 
loams, with occasional tracts of red clays. Along its eastern 
border, and particularly in its southeastern corner, there are 
large bodies of valuable timber, as it here touches the long- 
leaf pine belt; the lands are of the common character of this 
border region, and its soils are generally lean. Cotton is quite 
a subordinate interest in comparison with grains. Of the 
county area, 14.77 per cent, is tilled land, of which 14.11 per 
cent, is cultivated in cotton. The water-power of its rivers is 
very great, the Yadkin having a fall within the county of more 
than 200 feet and a force per foot of above 350 horse-power. 
There are many valuable gold mines, both vein and placer. 

Population 9,374— White 6,857, colored 2,517. Area 489 
square miles, woodland, 179,473 acres. Tilled lands 46,209 
acres, area planted in cotton 6.519 acres, in tobacco 54 acres, in 
corn 18,090 acres, in wheat 9,197 acres, in oats 7,852 acres. 
Cotton production 2,989 bales, average cotton product per 
acre 0.46 bale, 654 pounds seed-cotton, or 218 pounds cotton 
lint. Real property, aggregate value $700,683, personal prop- 
erty $422,897, total $1,123,580. State taxes $214.11, county 
taxes $9,508.07, school taxes $2,969.85. Live stock— Horses 
972, mules 762, cattle 4,658, hogs 11,991, sheep 6,113. Public 
schools 53, white 34, colored 19. Churches 29. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 107 



ANSON. 

Anson county lies on the southern border of the State, and 
is bounded on the east by the Pee Dee river. About one-third 
of its territory, in the southeastern portion, belongs to the 
long-leaf pine belt, with its characteristic soils and forests. 
The northwestern and northern sections of the county consist 
of slate soils (gray, gravelly clays), occupied by forests of oak, 
short-leaf pine, hickory, dogwood, etc. The river hills near the 
Pee Dee have a sandy and gravelly loam, becoming more red and 
clayey on the lower slopes. There lies across the middle, in a 
northeast and southwest direction, a low, nearly level tract, 5 
or 6 miles wide, of brown yellow, and gray sandy and clay 
loam soils, derived from the clays and sandstones of the Trias. 
These lands are naturally quite productive, but are much worn, 
and have been devoted mainly to the culture of cotton, which 
is the most important industry of the county, although the 
corn crops are quite large. Of the county area 25.31 per cent, 
is under tillage, of which 82.05 per cent, is in cotton. 

Population 17,994— White 8,790, colored 9,204. Area 545 
square miles, woodland 149,000 acres. Tilled lands 88,293 
acres, area planted in cotton 2^,296 acres, in corn 29,121 acres, 
in wheat 5,969 acres, in oats 8,999 acres. Cotton production 
11,857 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.42 bale, 597 
pounds seed-cotton, or 199 pounds cotton lint. Real property,, 
aggregate value $1,333,706, personal property $691,833, total 
$2,025,539, State taxes $755.33, county taxes $15,697.06, 
school taxes $5,327.11. Live stock — Horses 1,106, mules 
1,621, cattle 4,295, hogs 7,853, sheep 2,360. Public schools 
61, white 22, colored 39. Churches 34. 



UNION. 

The southern portion of Union county, which lies on the 
South Carolina border, is penetrated to a distance of several 
miles by sinuses of long-leaf pine (sandy lands) on the level- 
backed divides between the streams. This portion of the 
county is drained southward into the Pee Dee through South 
Carolina. 

The soils of a larger part of the county are of a slaty origin, 
and are gray gravelly and sandy for the most part, with occa- 
sional areas of red clays. The forests are mixed pine and oak, 
hickory, etc. The soils of a narrow belt along the west side 



108 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

are granitic. The cotton product belongs mainly to the south- 
ern half, the northern portion being devoted to small grains, 
of which it produces large crops — a total of nearly 500,000 
bushels. Of the county area 23.54 per cent, is tilled land, of 
which 22.75 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 

Population 18,056— White 13,520, colored 4,536. Area 557 
square miles, woodland 176,245 acres. Tilled lands 83,913 
acres, area planted in cotton 19,090 acres, in corn 28, 877 acres, 
in wheat 12,464 acres, in oats 14,357 acres. Cotton produc- 
tion 8,336 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.44 bale, 621 
pounds seed-cotton, or 207 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
aggregate value $1,868,867, personal property $1,208,017, total 
$3,016,884. State taxes $939.04, county taxes $10,763.22, 
school taxes $7,682,37. Live stock— Horses 1,772,. mules 2,034, 
cattle 8,038, hogs 20,848, sheep 10,315. Public schools 102, 
white 73, colored 29. Churches 26. 



STANLY. 

Stanly county lies on the west side of the Yadkin river, 
and is bounded on the south by the Rocky river, one of its 
largest tributaries. Its soils are derived from the clay and 
chlorite slates of the great central slate belt of the State, and 
are gray and gravelly loams or red clays, according as the 
underlying rock is of the former or of the latter description. 
The forests are of oak and short- leaf pine. Its surface is quite 
broken near the rivers. The southwestern corner of the 
county is characterized by broad and comparatively level 
tracts of gravelly land, covered with extensive short-leaf pine 
forests, with a subordinate growth of oaks. The cotton pro- 
duct is of about equal value with that of the grains, of which 
the total exceeds 400,000 bushels. The slate lands of this 
region produce heavier wheat than any other soils, reaching 
65 aud even 70 pounds to the bushel. Of the county area 
21.21 per cent, is tilled land, of which 10.02 per cent is culti- 
vated in cotton. 

Transportation is by wagon to railroads of the adjacent 
counties. 

Population 10,505— white 9,166, colored 1,339. Area 432 
square miles, woodland 119,148 acres. Tilled lands 58,628 
acres, area planted in cotton 5,878 acres, in corn 22,426 acres, 
in wheat 16,465 acres, in oats 10,975 acres. Cotton production 
2,475 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.42 bale, 600 
pounds seed-cotton, or 200 pounds cotton lint, Real property, 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 109 

aggregate value $1,116,123, personal property $715,430, total 
$1,831,553. State taxes $163.62, county taxes $12,932.67, 
school taxes $3,984.78. Live Stock — Horses 1,641, mules 
1,033, cattle 6,463, hogs 12,165, sheep 7,725. Public schools 
63, white 54, colored 9. Churches 27. 



DAVIDSON. 

This county lies midway of the breadth of the State and of 
the midland division, and on the northern border of the cotton 
belt. The average elevation is about 800 feet above sea-level 
— the northern end 1,000 and the southwestern 600 feet, but is 
interrupted by ranges of hills which are 900 feet in height and 
upward. The county is bounded on the west by the tortuous 
course of the Yadkin river, whose numerous tributaries drain 
almost its entire surface, one of which, Abbott's creek, tra- 
verses its middle section from north to south, while a multitude 
of smaller streams flow in a generally southwest course into the 
river. Both the river itself and these tributaries are generally 
bordered by tracts of bottom lands with a rich alluvial soil, 
covered by heavy forests of oak — largely white oak. There are 
considerable tracts of red-clay soil scattered through various 
portions of the county, which are covered with heavy oak for- 
ests. The eastern and northern margins, which lie along the 
elevated divides and swells between the greater rivers, contain 
mixed oak and pine forests, and have a soil which is generally 
a gray and yellow gravelly or sandy loam. A clay subsoil is 
found throughout the county. The cotton product of David- 
son county is small, and is limited to its southern end. Its 
wheat crop is the largest in the State, and its total grain pro- 
duct is only less than that of Rowan, amounting to 850,000 
bushels. The southern half of the county lies within the great 
gold belt, and numerous mines of gold and quite a number of 
copper and silver have been opened. The slate hills of the 
south end are notable'for their deposits of gold gravel, or 
placers. Of the county area, 31.39 per cent, is tilled land, of 
which only 3.33 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 

Transportation is by rail to Charleston, Norfolk and New 
York. 

Population 20,333— White 16,341, colored 3,992. Area 564 
square miles, woodland 142,673 acres. Tilled lands 113,314 
acres, area planted in cotton 3,779 acres, in tobacco 484 acres, 
in corn 36,983 acres, in wheat 32,195 acres, in oats 16,924 acres. 



110 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Cotton production 1,553 bales, average cotton product per acre 
0.41 bale, 585 pounds seed-cotton or 195 pounds cotton lint. 
Real property, aggregate value $1,790,837, personal property 
$1,030,511, total $2,827,348. State taxes $318.64, county taxes 
$11,746.04, school taxes $6,910.79. Live stock— Horses 6,918, 
mules 1,443, cattle 9,225, hogs 19,498, sheep 12,342. Public 
schools 97, white 72, colored 25. Churches 33. 



ROWAN. 

Rowan county lies on the west bank of the Yadkin river and 
south of its principal tributary, the South Yadkin, and resem- 
bles very closely in its agricultural and topographical features 
the county of Davidson, above described. Its eutire surface 
is drained by the tributaries of the Yadkin, which traverse its 
territory in a northeasterly course. Its middle and northern 
sections, which lie for the most part above the level of 800 feet, 
rising at one point above 1,000 feet, are characterized by an 
abundance of red clay soils and heavy oak forests, interspersed 
with hickory, walnut, etc., only the higher parts of (he water 
sheds between the streams showing any growth of pine (short- 
leaf), and having gray and yellow r sandy loam soils. The 
southeastern corner of the county, amounting to one-third of 
its territory, is quite broken, and is traversed by low ranges A 
mountains or high hills, which rise in places -to a level of a 
thousand feet and more above the sea. These consist geologi- 
cally, for the most part, of ledges of granite. The hills of 
this region have a light gray and yellow sandy loam soil. 

The culture of cotton has greatly increased in the past de- 
cade, but still occupies a secondary place in the agriculture of 
the county, most of its territory being better adapted to the 
growth of corn and small grains, of which the total is the 
largest in the State, being more than 875,000 bushels. The 
upper portion produces also a considerable quantity of tobacco. 
Of the county area, 30.59 per cent is" tilled land, of which 
12.34 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. There are many gold 
mines in this county, mostly in the southern part, and several 
copper veins. 

Population 19,965— White 13,621, colored 6,344. Area 482 
square miles, Avoodland 117,870 acres. Tilled lands 94,378 
acres, area planted in cotton 10,645 acres, in tobacco 216 acres, 
in corn 38,963 acres, in wheat 24,195 acres, in rye 253 acres, in 
oats 17,751 acres. Cotton production 4,381 bales, average cot 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. Ill 



ton product per acre 0.41 bale, 585 pounds seed-cotton, or 195 
pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $2,468,474, 
personal property $1,302,081, total $3,770,555. State taxes 
$847.49, county taxes $7,674.05, school taxes $10,845.35. Live 
stock— Horses 3,087, mules 1,502, cattle 7,593, hogs 16,230, 
sheep 5,875. Public schools 130, white 68, colored 62. 
Churches 49. 



CABARRUS. 

Cabarrus resembles Rowan county in its general features, 
both topographical and agricultural. It is drained by the 
upper waters of the Rocky river, one of the chief affluents of the 
Yadkin, and abounds in water-courses, which traverse its ter- 
ritory from northwest to southeast, dividing it into narrow 
zones or flattish swells, the higher parts of which are compar- 
atively level and are covered with a growth of oaks and pines 
and have a characteristic gray to yellow loam soil, while along 
the borders of the streams there are numerous and often exten- 
sive tracts of alluvial bottom lands, which, as well as large 
tracts of red clay and dark gravelly loam soils, are covered 
with heavy forests of oak, hickory, walnut, poplar, maple, etc. 
Along the eastern margin of the county lies a narrow belt of a 
few miles in breadth of slate hill-land, in the forests of which 
the short-leaf pine predominates. The soils of this tract are 
much less productive than the average of the county. Cotton 
enters as a large element into the agriculture of this county, 
and divides almost equally the attention of its population with 
grain crops, of which it produces more than half a million 
bushels. Of the county area, 33.97 per cent, is tilled land, of 
which 23.90 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. Gold and cop- 
per mining also come in for a considerable share of attention. 

Population 14,964— White 9,849, colored 5,115. Area 370 
square miles, woodland 86,297 acres. Tilled lands 80,439 acres, 
area planted in cotton 19,224 acres, in corn 26,831 acres, in 
wheat 17,550 acres, in oats 7,592 acres. Cotton production 
7,467 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.39 bale, 552 
pounds seed-cotton, or 184 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
aggregate value $1,676,606, personal property $1,047,398, 
total $2,724,204. State taxes $658.88, county taxes $11,195.27, 
school taxes $6,026.14. Live stock — Horses 2,235, mules 1,531, 
cattle 5,986, hogs 11,314, sheep 3,946. Public schools 107, 
white 64, colored 43. Churches 39. 



112 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



MECKLENBURG. 

Mecklenburg county lies on the southern border of the State, 
and is bounded westward by the Catawba river. The elevation 
varies between 600 and 900 feet, the average being about 700 
above the sea. This is one of the largest and most productive 
as well as one of the most populous counties in the State. The 
production of cotton constitutes the principal feature of the agri- 
culture of the entire county, having increased more than three- 
fold in the last ten years; before the war the culture of cotton 
did not reach northward beyond the middle of the county. A 
considerable portion of the territory of this county belongs to 
the class of red clay lands which were originally covered with 
heavy forests of oak, pine coming in as a constituent of the 
forests only on the summits of the ridges and divides between 
the streams, where the soils are gray and yellow, sandy loams. 
The higher portion of the county, which lies along the water- 
shed between the Yadkin and the Catawba in a north and 
south direction, belongs, in the main, to the latter class of soils, 
but has here and there small tracts of red clay. Of the county 
area, 36.36 per cent, is under tillage, and of this 30.85 per cent, 
is in cotton. This county shows a large product of cotton, 
ranking third in this respect; and also produces corn and the 
small grains on a large scale, aggregating 800,000 bushels. 
Gold and copper mining are important industries in several 
sections of the county. 

Charlotte being an important railroad centre, the county has 
ample facilities for shipment in every direction. 

Population 34,175— White 17,922, colored 16,253. Area 576 
square miles, woodland 115,649 acres. Tilled lands, 134,028 
acres, area planted in cotton 41,343 acres, in corn 41,285 acres, 
in wheat 12,295 acres, in oats 12,949 acres. Cotton production 
19,129 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.46 bale, 660 
pounds seed-cotton or 220 pounds cotton lint. Real prop- 
erty, aggregate value $4,700,698, personal property $1,762,660, 
total $6,463,358. State taxes $4,066.25, county taxes $41,- 
702.80, school taxes $16,223.42. Live stock— Horses 2,533, 
mules 3,160, cattle 7,326, hogs 2,210, sheep 4,821. Public 
schools 195, white. 91, colored 104. Churches 53. 



IREDELL. 

Iredell is a county of rolling uplands, and lies on the waters 
of the Catawba on the west, and of the Yadkin on the east, 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 113 

being mainly drained by the latter. It is divided in a north- 
westerly and southeasterly direction by the course of the tribu- 
tary streams into broad, rlattish, elevated zones, the summits 
of which have generally a gray and yellow loam soil, with 
mixed oak and pine forests and occasional tracts of red clay 
oak-covered soils, while along the streams, which abound in 
alluvial bottoms, forests of oak, walnut, hickory, etc., pre- 
dominate. One of these high swells or divides lies along and 
quite close to the course of the Catawba river, and has an ele- 
vation of 900 feet in its southern portion, rising to 1,000 feet 
and upward at its northern limit. The average elevation of 
the county is but little below 1,000 feet above sea-level. 

The cotton crop has increased tenfold since 1870, and is con- 
fined maiuly to the southern half, this form of agriculture hav- 
ing only recently passed beyond the middle of the county. 
The northern section produces tobacco as its chief market 
crop, but corn and the small grains occupy the larger portion 
of the tilled surface of the county, and aggregate more tflan 
800,000 bushels. Of the county area 26.53 per cent, is tilled 
laud, of which 11.49 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. Trans- 
portation is by rail, east, west, and south. 

Population 22,675— White 16,752, colored 5,923. Area 595 
square miles, woodland 153,039 acres. Tilled lands 101,018 
acres, area planted in cotton 11,603 acres, in tobacco 465 acres, 
in corn 39,264 acres, in wheat 17,476 acres, in rye 359 acres, in 
oats 17,488 acres. Cotton production 4,657 bales, average cot- 
ton product per acre 0.40 bale, 573 pounds seed-cotton, or 
191 pounds eotton lint. Real property, aggregate value 
$2,452,780, personal property $1,361,416, total $3,814,196. 
State taxes $1,033.55, county taxes $19,584.87, school taxes 
$8,754.36. Live stock— Horses 2,711, mules 2,015, cattle 
8,285, hogs 15,759, sheep 8,771. Public schools 171, white 
95, colored 76. Churches 56. 



CATAWBA. 

Catawba county lies on the northern border of the cotton 
belt and on the margin of the Piedmont division of the State. 
It is bounded northward and eastward by the Catawba river, 
and has its western end on the foot-hills of the South moun- 
tains. As to its middle, southern, and eastern parts, it resem- 
bles the county of Iredell, from which it is separated by the 
Catawba river. Through the middle region of it, and in a 



114 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

northeast and southwest direction, is a broad belt of oak and 
hickory forest with a red clay soil, while that of the western 
section is a light to yellow sandy loam. The streams of this 
county, all of which flow into the Catawba, are occasionally 
bordered by considerable tracts of alluvial lands, and along 
the course of the Catawba are extensive bottoms. These and 
the red lands of the county are very productive. In the south- 
eastern corner, as well as along the northwestern border, are 
mountain spurs which rise to an elevation of 1,500 feet and more 
above sea-level. A broad, fiattish plateau crosses the county 
in a northwest and southeast direction between these moun- 
tain spurs, which, for the most part, is characterized by sandy 
and gravelly loams, and its oak forests are intermingled with 
much pine. 

The culture of cotton has been introduced into the county 
since 1870, and has become the money crop. The larger part 
of its territory is still devoted to grain, of which more than 
half a million bushels are produced. Tobacco has been added 
to the list of its products within a few years, nearly half of 
the county being well adapted to the better grades of this 
crop. Of the county area 26.46 per cent is tilled land, of 
which 7 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. Transportation is 
by railroad, east, west, and south. 

Population 14,946— White 12,469, colored 2,477. Area 445 
square miles, woodland 110,328 acres. Tilled lands 75,350 
acres, area planted in cotton 5,175 acres, in tobacco 49 acres, 
in corn 21,248 acres, in wheat 15,054 acres, in oats 7,566 acres. 
Cotton production 2,012 bales, average cotton product per 
acre 0.39 bale, 555 pounds seed-cotton, or 185 pounds cotton 
lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,604,699, personal 
property $1,093,615, total $2,698,314. State taxes $638.25, 
county taxes $7,481.52, school taxes $5,919.26. Live stock — 
Horses 2,000, mules 1,401, cattle 7,779, hogs 13,263, sheep 
6,888. Public schools 71, white 55, colored 16. Churches 33. 



LINCOLN. 

Lincoln county lies south of Catawba county and west of the 
Catawba river, and its features, agricultural and topographical, 
are those of that county, and may be described in nearly the 
same terms. Its territory is drained by the parallel courses of 
the numerous tributaries of the South Fork of the Catawba, 
which traverses its middle section, and the average elevation 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 115 

is nearly 1,000 feet above sea-level. In its middle portion is a 
north and south zone, several miles in breadth, of red-clay soils, 
with oak and hickory forests. For the rest, its forests are 
mixed oak and pine, and its soils are gray and yellow gravelly 
loams. The eastern side of the county is quite hilly near the 
river. 

Only within the last few years has the culture of cotton 
entered to any considerable extent into the agriculture of this 
county, and it already holds the leading rank. Of the county 
area, 28.37 per cent, is under tillage, and of this 13.89 per cent, 
is in cotton. The manufactures of the county, especially in 
iron and cotton, have always been considerable. 

Railroads cross the county in two directions, furnishing am- 
ple means of transportation. 

Population 11,061— White 8,180, colored 2,881. Area 295 
square miles, woodland 20, 293 acres. Tilled lands 53,571 acres, 
area planted in cotton 7,442 acres, in corn 19,338 acres, in 
wheat 10,159 acres, in oats 6,313 acres. Cotton production 
2,945 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.40 bale, 564 
pounds seed-cotton or 188 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
aggregate value $1,288,450, personal property $719,376, total 
$2,007,826. State taxes $608.84, county taxes $5,105.61, school 
taxes $4,480.97. Live stock— Horses 1,188, mules 1,379, cat- 
tle 5,036, hogs 9,605, sheep 4,344. Public schools 44, white 
35, colored 9. Churches 27. 



GASTON. 

G-aston, a small county, lies on the southern border of the 
State, and is bounded eastward by the Catawba river, whose 
tributaries drain its entire surface. In the southern section are 
several small mountain chains and spurs, the highest of which, 
King's mountain, reaches an altitude of nearly 1,700 feet above 
sea- level. Most of the county is quite broken, and partakes 
of the character of the Piedmont division. It is characterized 
by mixed forests of oak and pine and by gray and yellow 
gravelly soils of moderate fertility, with occasional areas of 
red-clay soils. In the northwestern section are the largest 
tracts of oak and hickory forests, with their corresponding 
red-clay soils. 

Of the county area, 25.57 per cent, is under tillage, and of 
this 18.38 per cent, is in cotton. The product of cotton has 
increased sixfold in the last ten years. 



116 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

There are many valuable beds of iron ore in the county, and 
the manufactures of cotton, and formerly of iron, have attained 
considerable importance. It is one of the oldest iron manu- 
facturing regions of the south, some of its furnaces dating 
back nearly one hundred years. In water-power it has supe- 
rior advantages. It has also several noted gold mines. 

Population 14,254— White 10,188, colored 4,066. Area 364 
square miles, woodland 97,543 acres. Tilled lands 59,569 
acres, area planted in cotton 10,949 acres, in corn 24,678 acres, 
in wheat 11,566 acres, in oats 6,699 acres. Cotton production 
4,588 bales, average cotton product per acre, 0.42 bale, 597 
pounds seed-cotton or 199 pounds cotton lint. Real property, 
aggregate value $1,795,486, personal property $1,037,372, total 
$2,832,858. State taxes $467.58, county taxes $12,762.34, 
school taxes $6, 139. 23. Live stock— Horses 2, 011, mules 1, 743, 
cattle 5,098, hogs 10,255, sheep 4,905. Public schools 74, 
white 54, colored 20. Chuiches 32. 



CLEVELAND. 

Cleveland county is situated on the southern border of the 
State, and lies westward of Gaston county. Its northern end 
rests upon the summit of the South mountains, at an elevation 
of nearly 3,000 feet above sea-level, and its upper half belongs 
properly to the Piedmont division. It is drained by several 
large tributaries of the Broad river, which rise in this chain 
and cross the county southward into South Carolina. Its agri- 
cultural and topographical features are very similar to those of 
Catawba county, to which its territory is contiguous. Its 
soils consist of alternating tracts of red or reddish clay and 
gray and yellow gravelly loams (chiefly the latter), and have 
their corresponding forests of oak and of oak mingled with pine. 
This county produces cotton throughout its territory even up 
to the flanks and on the slopes of the South mountains, 
although this form of agriculture is the growth of a decade, 
the product having increased twelvefold in that time. The 
production of grain exceeds 500,000 bushels. Of the county 
area 28.88 per cent, is tilled land, of which cotton occupies 
22.43 per cent. Gold mining is also a familiar industry, placers 
being common in the north and vein mines in the south end. 

Population 16,571— White 13,700, colored 2,871. Area 464 
square miles, woodland 129,115 acres. Tilled lands 85.752 
acres, area planted in cotton 19,238 acres, in corn 31,339 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 117 



acres, in wheat 11,116 acres, in oats 10,951) acres. Cotton 
production 6,126 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.32 
bale, 453 pounds seed-cotton, or 151 pounds cotton lint. 
Real property, aggregate value $2,353,268. personal property 
$945,984, total $3,299,252. State taxes $599, county taxes 
$15,255.33, school taxes $5,078,44. Live stock— Horses 1,345, 
mules 2,050, cattle 7,006, hogs 9,878, sheep 5,936. Public 
schools 90, white 69, colored 21. Churches 43. 



RUTHERFORD. 

The topographical features of Rutherford county may be 
described in the same terms as those of Cleveland, which 
bounds it on the east. Like that, it is traversed from its 
northern limit, in the South mountains, by the parallel south- 
erly courses of several large tributaries of the Broad river. Its 
northern half is, in many places, quite rugged and mountain- 
ous (being properly a part of the Piedmont division), and its 
northwestern corner rests On some of the summits of the Blue 
Ridge at an elevation of nearly 4,000 feet. Its soils and its 
agriculture correspond in all their features to those of Cleve- 
land county, and its cotton product has increased seventeen 
fold since 1870. Gold mining is also an industry of some im- 
portance, especially in the northern section, where placers are 
abundant and extensive on the flanks of the South mountains 
and in the beds of the streams at their base. Of the county 
area, 19.18 per cent, is tilled land, of which 15.16 per cent, is 
planted in cotton. 

Transportation is by wagon to the railroads of adjacent 
counties, and thence to Charlotte, Wilmington and Charleston. 

Population 15,198— White 11,910, colored 3,288. Area 520 
square miles, woodland 180,192 acres. Tilled lands 63,825 
acres, area planted in cotton 9,679 acres, in tobacco 38 acres, in 
corn 32, 783 acres, in wheat 8,683 acres, in rye 689 acres, in oats 
6,166 acres. Cotton production 2,079 bales, average cotton 
product per acre 0.21 bale, 306 pounds seed- cot ton or 102 
pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,118,- 
401, personal property $437,256, total $1,555,657. State taxes 
$218.07, county taxes $19,158.10, school taxes $4,261 98. Live 
stock — Horses 1,253, mules 1,486, cattle 7,080, hogs 10,651, 
sheep 5,714. Public schools 99, white 76, colored 23. 



118 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



RANDOLPH. 

The southern portion of Randolph county for a few miles 
from its border partakes in part of the character of the loug- 
leaf pine belt, but for much the larger part of its. territory it 
belongs strictly to the oak upland region, its surface being 
quite hilly and broken, and near the western margin there are 
several small mountains. Through its middle region, from 
northwest to southeast, is an elevated ridge or divide between 
the waters of the Deep river and the Yadkin which has an 
altitude of from 700 to 900 feet above the level of the sea. 
The western and southern sections of the county are character- 
ized by the occurence of sharp ridges and hills of slate, with 
light-gray, sandy, gravelly soil; but the upper portion is much 
less broken, and consists of broad, flattish swells, which con- 
stitute the divides between the upper waters of the Haw, Deep 
and Uwharrie rivers, the latter being one of the tributaries of 
the Yadkin. The soils of this portion of the county are, for 
the most part, gray, gravelly loams, alternated here an'l there 
with red clay lands. Cotton is produced in only a small part 
of the southern half of the county, the production of small 
grains (700,000 bushels) constituting its principal agricultural 
feature. Of the county area, 20.44 per cent, is tilled land, of 
which only 0.65 per cent, is planted in cotton. There are sev- 
eral noted gold mines in this county. 

Transportation is furnished by the North Carolina railroad, 
which crosses the upper corner of the county. 

Population 20,836— White 17,758, colored 3,078. Area 701 
square miles, woodland 237,999 acres. Tilled lands 91,693 
acres, area planted in cotton 595 acres, in tobacco. 45 acres, in 
corn 35,338 acres, in wheat 29,443 acres, in oats 13,524 acres. 
Cotton production 295 bales, average cotton product per acre 
0.50 bale, 708 pounds seed cotton, or 236 pounds cotton lint. 
Real property, aggregate value $2,062,800, personal property 
$1,080,650. total $3,143,450. State taxes $396.89, couuty 
taxes $19,519.98, school taxes $5,236.24. Live stock— Horses 
3,183, mules 1,679, cattle 12,393, hogs 22,925, sheep 2,330. ; 
Public schools 124, white 104, colored 20. Churches 52. 



GUILFORD. 

Guilford county lies in the middle of the midland plateau, 
and near its highest part, on the water-shed between the Cape 
Fear and Dan rivers, which crosses its territory nearly mid- 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 119 

way in a west and east direction at an average elevation of 
between 800 and 1,000 feet above tide. In its physical char- 
acteristics and its agricultural features this county may be 
taken as a typical average of this region. This elevated swell 
of land between the water-courses, with its projections at 
right angles between the main tributaries of the above men- 
tioned rivers, is characterized by quite a uniform forest 
growth and soil, both of which may be taken as representative 
of these features for the major part of the midland division. 
Its forests consist mainly of oaks of various species and hick- 
ory, with a subordinate growth of short-leaf pine scattered 
quite uniformly over most of its area. Along its river and 
creek bottoms, which are in many parts of the county exten- 
sive, and in the southeastern section of the county — even on 
the uplands — are heavy forests of oak, intermingled with 
hickory, walnut, poplar, maple, etc. These lands have gen- 
erally a reddish clay loam soil. The soil of the higher and 
broad-backed ridges and swells is quite uniformly a yellowish 
sandy and gravelly loam, underlaid by a yellow and red clay 
subsoil. The cotton zone bar ly touches the southern border, 
the chief crops of the county consisting of grains (of which 
the aggregate exceeds three- quarters of a million bushels) and 
tobacco, the product of which is nearly half a million pounds, 
grown mostly in the northern half of th^ county. Of the 
county area 28.10 per cent, is tilled land, of which only 0.22 
per cent, is planted in cotton. Gold, copper, and iron are 
found in many places, and have been mined on a considerable 
scale chiefly before the war. 

Transportation is east, west and north by rail to Richmond, 
Norfolk and New York. 

Population 23,585— White 16,885, colored 6,700. Area 682 
square miles, woodland 108,071 acres. Tilled lands 126,722 
acres, area planted in cotton 283 acres, in tobacco 910 acres, in 
corn 39,790 acres, in wheat 27,743 acres, in rye 354 acres, in 
oats 20,774 acres. Cotton production 114 bales, average cot- 
ton product per acre 0.40 bale, 573 pounds seed-cotton, or 
191 pounds cotton lint. - Real property, aggregate value 
$2,930,158, personal property $1,654,690, total $4,584,848. 
State taxes $1,320.52, county taxes $17,515.30, school taxes 
$10,729.93. .Live stock— Horses. 3,464, mules 1,111, cattle 
11,876, hogs 17,831, sheep 1,167. Public schools 124, white 
89, colored 35. Churches 77. 



120 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

ALAMANCE. 

This county is drained by the upper waters of the Cape Fear 
river, and one of its principal tributaries, the Haw river, crosses 
it from the northwestern to the southeastern corner. The soils 
of this county are largely fertile red-clay loams, with oak and 
hickory forests. Slate hills, which rise to the elevation of low 
mountain chains, occupy the southern end of the county, and 
have oak and pine forests and thin, sandy loam soils. The 
northern portion consists of alternating tracts of gray sandy 
loams and red clays. The cotton belt barely touches the south- 
ern edge of the county. The upper end is devoted to the pro- 
duction of tobacco, and the wholeof it to grain crops, of which 
the yield is lar^e. 

The manufacturing facilities of the county are very great, 
and, in number of cotton-looms and spindles, Alamance stands 
first of all the counties in the State. There are also gold de- 
posits, both vein and placer, in the middle and southern sec- 
tions. 

Of the county area, 25.50 per cent, is tilled land, of which 
0.29 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. Transportation is east 
and west by rail. 

Population 14,613— White 9,997 colored 4,616. Area 445 
square miles, woodland 71.239 acres. Tilled lands 72,621 acres, 
area planted in cotton 211 acres, in tobacco 1,688 acres, in corn 
24,628 acres, in wheat 18.661 acres, in oats 9,618 acres. Cot- 
ton production 91 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.43 
bale, 615 pounds seed cotton or 205 pounds cotton lint. Real 
property, aggregate value $1,715,239, personal property, $1,- 
501. 9S1* total $3,217,220. State taxes $547.39, county taxes 
$15,656.59, school taxes $7,952.88. Live stock— Horses 2,423, 
mules 688, cattle 6,301, hogs 12,522, sheep 6,527. Public 
schools 68, white 47, colored 21. Churches 37. 



PERSON. 

Person county lies outside of the cotton belt, and belongs to 
the bright tobacco zone. Near the middle of it rise several 
low mountaiu ridges of grauite and slate, with oak and pine 
forests. These attain an altitude of about 1,000 feet (the gen- 
eral elevation being from 600 to 700 feet), and have a thin 
gravelly and sandy soil, while the other sections are alternately 
of this character and of red clay soils of greater fertility. To 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 121 

the latter class belong especially the northwestern and south- 
eastern sections. The chief agricultural interest is the pro- 
duction of tobacco of a high grade, in which industry this is 
one of the leading counties. To this crop the light sandy soils 
are peculiarly adapted. In tobacco product Person county is 
fourth in rank. Of the county area 27.91 per cent, is tilled 
land, of which only an insignificant portion is planted in cot- 
ton. 

Transportation is by wagon to the railroad in adjoining 
counties, and so to Richmond and the other markets. 

Population 13,719— White 7,206, colored 6,513. Area 401 
square miles, woodland 96,011 acres. Tilled lands 71,634 
acres, area planted in cotton 2 acres, in tobacco 5,868 acres, in 
corn 19,372 acres, in wheat 8,974 acres, in oats 9,821 acres. 
Cotton production 1 bale, average cotton product per acre 0.50 
bale, 711 pounds seed-cotton, or 237 pounds cotton lint. Real 
property, aggregate value $1,005,824, personal property $813,- 
628, total $1,819,450. State taxes $466.19, county taxes $12,- 
037.83, school taxes $5,035.49. Live stock— Horses 1,874, 
mules 786, cattle 5,985, hogs 12,468, sheep 6,236. Public 
schools 41, white 19, colored 22. Churches 29. 



CASWELL. 

Caswell county duplicates the features of Person, both agri- 
culturally aud topographically, except that the mountains are 
wanting. The larger part of its territory is devoted to the 
production of bright yellow tobacco, while grain crops occupy 
a comparatively subordinate position, and are produced prin- 
cipally along the river and creek bottoms which abound in the 
northern and eastern sections of this county. The northeast- 
ern section consists largely of red clay lands, with oak and 
hickory forests, while the lighter tobacco soils occupy most of 
the southern and western portions. Caswell ranks third 
among the tobacco counties in aggregate product. Of the 
county area 32.07 per cent, is tilled land, of which 0.01 per 
cent, is planted in cotton. 

Transportation is furnished by the Richmond and Danville 
railroad and a branch of it. 

Population 17,825— White 7,169, colored 10,656. Area 407 

square miles, woodland 76,200 acres. Tilled lands 83,545 

acres, area planted in cotton 6 acres, in tobacco 10,174 acres, 

in corn 2"5,6"63 acres, in wheat lb, 841 acres, in oats 14,441 

6 



122 HAND-BOOK OF NOETH CAKOLINA. 

acres. Cotton production 4 bales, average cotton product per 
acre 0.67 bale, 951 pounds seed-cotton, or 317 pounds cotton 
lint. Real property, aggregate value $1,328,962, personal pro- 
perty $1,000,582, total $2,329,544. State taxes $1,175.97, 
county taxes $8,764.67, school taxes $6,134.49. Live stock — 
Horses 1,756, mules 895, cattle 3,853, hogs 10,073, sheep 1,742. 
Public schools 65, white 31, colored 34. Churches 35. 



ROCKINGHAM. 

Rockingham, like the two preceding, is a border county, 
and belongs to the same famous bright tobacco belt. It is 
traversed in a northeasterly course by the waters of the Dan 
river, and its southern section is drained by the upper tribu- 
taries of the Cape Fear (Haw) river. The northwestern cor- 
ner of this county, constituting about one-third of its terri- 
tory, near the Virginia line and north of the Dan river, con- 
sists for the most part of elevated flattish ridges and swells 
having gray, yellow, gravelly loam soils, while the southern 
and eastern two-thirds of the county consist of alternating 
belts of these loams and of red clays. Besides tobacco, in 
which this county ranks second, large crops of grain are pro 
duced — upward of 600,000 bushels. Dan river, with its tribu- 
taries, furnishes abundant water power, and the former stream 
is navigable in a small way for flat boats. A bed of semi-bitu- 
minous coal, 3 feet in thickness, and of good quality, outcrops 
in the eastern section, but it has been but little mined. Of 
the county area 20.79 per cent, is tilled land, of which only 
0.01 per cent, is planted in cotton. 

Shipments are made by rail to Danville, Richmond, and 
other markets. 

Population 21,744— White 12,431, colored 9,313. Area 582 
square miles, woodland 138.200 acres. "Tilled lands 77,439 
acres, area planted in cotton 5 acres, in tobacco 9,332 acres, in 
corn 25,175 acres, in wheat 11,298 acres, in rye 301 acres, in 
oats- 15,200 acres. Cotton production 3 bales, average cotton 
product per acre 0.60 bale, 855 pounds seed-cotton, or 285 
pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $1, 903,- 
114, personal property $1,364,908, total $3,268,022. State 
taxes $1, 538. 09, county taxes $24, 299. 70, school taxes $8, 273. 77. 
Live stock— Horses 1,899, mules 1,057, cattle 6,387, hogs 
13,047, sheep 4,724. Public schools 94, white 56, colored 38. 
Churches 25. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 123 



STOKES. 

Stokes is another border county, and belongs also to the 
bright tobacco belt. It is drained by the upper tributaries of 
the Dan, and belongs to the Piedmont division of the State. 
Its surface is for the most part quite rugged and broken, con- 
taining the terminal spurs and ridges of the Brushy moun- 
tains, which here attain an elevation of more than 2,500 feet 
above the sea. The general elevation is above 1,000 feet. 
The forests of this county and of the Piedmont region gener- 
erally contain an added element, the chestnut, on elevated 
ridges and mountain slopes, and the proportion increases with 
the elevation. A new species of oak also makes its appear- 
ance, the chestnut oak, which occupies the crests and upper 
slopes of the poorer stony and gravelly ridges of the whole 
mountain region. The proportion of sourwood (Oxydendron) 
also increases to such an extent in the Piedmont region as to 
become a marked characteristic of its forests, and is indicative 
of a scant soil. It is worthy of note that, with the extinction 
of the herbage which originally mantled the soil and kept it 
moist, the chestnut has almost disappeared in half a century 
from the upper midland counties, and is dying out slowly in 
the Piedmont region. 

The soils of this county resemble those of Rockingham, 
being predominantly yellow and gray gravelly loams, with 
occasional red clay belts, the former well adapted to the pro- 
duction of the higher grades of tobacco, which constitutes the 
chief element of its agriculture, and in the total product of 
which this county stands fifth. Its manufacturing facilities 
are great but undeveloped, and it is rich in iron ores. Its 
agriculture has the advantage of the presence of several lime- 
stone beds, and there are also outcrops of semi-bituminous 
coal in the southeastern section. Of the county area 17.52 
per cent, is tilled land, of which only 0.02 per cent, is planted 
in cotton. 

Transportation is by wagon, and occasionally by flat boats 
on the Dan river. A railroad from Greensboro is nearly fin- 
ished to the border. 

Population 15,353— White 11,730, colored 3,623. Area 476 
square miles, woodland 131,483 acres. Tilled lands 53,369 
acres, area planted in cotton 13 acres, in tobacco 4,690 acres, 
in corn 19,969 acres, in wheat 9,374 acres, in rye 1,195 acres, 
in oats 8,408 acres. Cotton production 7 bales, average cotton 
product per acre 0.54 bale, 768 pounds seed-cotton, or 256 



124 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $825,704, 
personal property $453,588, total $1,279,292. State taxes 
$253.38, county taxes $5,607.27, school taxes $4,081.11. Live 
stock— Horses 1,240, mules 1,075, cattle 5,307, hogs 11,317, 
sheep 4,438. Public schools 75, white 56, colored 19. Churches 
22. 



FORSYTH. 

Forsyth county lies west of Guilford, and is bounded on the 
west by the Yadkin river. Through its middle portion is a 
broad swell or plateau, the divide between the waters of the 
Yadkin and Dan, with an elevation of from 1,000 to 1,200 
feet, and having forests of oak, dogwood, sourwood, pine, etc. 
Its soils are light, gray loams. The tributaries of the Yadkin, 
which drain the southwestern section, abound in bottom lands 
of great fertility, and have heavy oak forests interspersed with 
hickory, walnut, poplar, etc., while the middle, northern, and 
eastern sections are characterized largely by gray sandy loam 
soils with forests of oak and pine. This county shows an in- 
creasing product of the better and medium grades of tobacco, 
but it produces chiefly grain crops — an aggregate of more than 
500,000 bushels. Of the county area 25.39 per cent, is tilled 
land, of which, cotton occupies only 0.03 per cent. 

Transportation is by rail to Greensboro and to the other 
markets beyond. 

Population 18,070— White 13,441, colored 4,629. Area 364 
square miles, woodland 91,053 acres. Tilled lands 59,157 
acres, area planted in cotton 16 acres, in tobacco 1>693 acres, in 
corn 20,920 acres, in wheat 13,590 acres, in rye 492 acres, in 
oats 11,780 acres. Cotton production 10 bales, average cot- 
ton product per acre 0.63 bale, 891 pounds seed-cotton, or 297 
pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $2,136,- 
413, personal property $1,957,240, total $4,193,653. State 
taxes $2,907.63. Live stock— Horses 2,021, mules 714, cattle 
4,997, hogs 10,519, sheep 3,606. Public schools 73, white 54, 
colored 19. Churches 44. 



DAVIE. 

The small county of Davie lies in the angle between the 
Yadkin and the South Yadkin rivers, and resembles in its gen- 
eral features the preceding county. It also corresponds with 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 125 

that county in its agricultural productions. In the southern 
half of this county the soils belong largely to the class of red 
clays, and are covered with heavy oak forests, while the mid- 
dle and northern portions have a mixed growth of oaks and 
pines and a light-gray, sandy and gravelly soil. This section 
of the county is mainly devoted to the culture of tobacco. The 
river hills, flanking both the Yadkin and its chief tributaries, 
are quite broken, and have a productive gravelly loam soil and 
forests predominantly of oak. The elevation of the surface 
ranges from 700 to 1,000 feet, the average being about 850 feet 
above sea-level. The culture of cotton has recently entered 
the southern and western townships. The grain crop is quite 
large, exceeding 650,000 bushels; and latterly, also, tobacco 
has been cultivated to a considerable extent in the north and 
west sections, the soils of a large part of its territory being well 
adapted to the higher grades. There are several valuable iron 
ore deposits in the county. Of the county area, only 32.05 per 
cent, is tilled land, and the proportion of cotton planted is 
1.33 per cent, of the latter. 

Transportation is furnished by the Western North Carolina 
railroad, which crosses the adjacent county of Rowan. 

Population 11.096— White 7,770, colored 3,326. Area 289 
square miles, woodland 63.566 acres. Tilled lands 59,272 acres, 
area planted in cotton 790 acres, in tobacco 1,205 acres, in corn 
22,125 acres, in wheat 13,244 acres, in rye 444 acres, in oats 
13,366 acres. Cotton production 302 bales, average cotton 
product per acre 0.38 bale, 546 pounds seed-cotton or 182 
pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $909,380, 
personal property $565,153, total $1,474,533. State taxes 
$377.25, county taxes $6,619.49, school taxes $3,771.79. Live 
stock — Horses 1,618, mules 965, cattle 3,715, hogs 9,368, sheep 
3,400. Public schools 43, white 28, colored 15. Churches 26. 



YADKIN. 

Yadkin county lies immediately north of Davie, in the bend 
of the Yadkin river, which bounds it northward and eastward. 
It is traversed in a nearly east and west course by the Brushy 
mountains, which here drop down into low spurs and swells, 
the average elevation of the county being probably not greater 
than 1,200 feet. Its soils and forests are like those of Davie 
county. Its agricultural interest is divided between the pro- 
duction of tobacco and grain crops, the product of the latter 



126 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

nearly reaching half a million bushels. Cotton culture has 
invaded its southern border to a small extent within a few 
years. There are several iron mines in the county, but they 
have been little worked, as they are too far from market. Of 
the county area, 23.51 per cent, is tilled land, of which 0.16 
per cent, is planted in cotton. 

No railroad has yet reached the county. 

Population 12,420— White 10,876, colored 1,544. Area 351 
square miles, woodland 89,582 acres. Tilled lands 52,816 acres, 
area planted in cotton 87 acres, in tobacco 425 acres, in corn 
21,735 acres, in wheat 10,190 acres, in rye 821 acres, in oats 
11,289 acres. Cotton production 26 bales, average cotton pro- 
duct per acre, 30 bale, 426 pounds seed-cotton, or 142 pounds 
cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value, $855,630. per- 
sonal property $452,416, total $1,318,046. State taxes $199.78, 
county taxes $17,455.20, school taxes $3,482.44. Live stock — 
Horses 1,412, mules 885, cattle 5,267, hogs 10,275, sheep 3,630. 
Public schools 59, white 48, colored 11. Churches 17. 



SURRY. 

Surry is a north border county, contiguous to the Blue Ridge, 
and belongs to the Piedmont section of the State. The Yad- 
kin river is its southern boundary. Its western section is quite 
mountainous, and there are small mountains in the middle, so 
that its surface is quite broken, and its average elevation is 
nearly 1,400 feet. Its soils and forests are like those of the 
neighboring counties, Stokes and Forsyth, the high slaty ridges 
and mountains, as well as much of the rolling surface, having 
a light gray, sandy loam soil and forests of oak and pine, with 
sourwood and chestnut, while the better tracts of reddish clay 
loams have a predominant growth of oaks, hickory, poplar, 
etc., with little or no pine. 

The agriculture of the county is like that of Stokes, tobacco 
of the better grades being the chief market crop, but of greatly 
less value than the grain product, which exceeds 500,000 
bushels. The water power of the county is notable, a number 
of large tributaries of the Yadkin crossing its territory with a 
fall of several hundred feet. This is a feature common to the 
whole Piedmont region. There are several cotton factories and 
iron mines and forges in the county. Of the county area, 22.65 
per cent, is tilled land, of which only an insignificant portion 
is cultivated in cotton. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 127 

Population 15,302— White 13.227, colored 2,075. Area 476 
square miles, woodland 188.631 acres. Tilled lands 69,011 
acres, area planted in cotton 3 acres, in tobacco 2.136 acres, in 
corn 25,334 acres, in wheat 9,823 acres, in rye 3,027 acres, in 
oats 9,199 acres, in buckwheat 71 acres. Cotton production 
1 bale, average cotton product per acre 0.33 bale, 474 pounds 
seed-cotton or 158 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggre- 
gate value $1,118,660, personal property $499,082, total $1,- 
'617,742. State taxes $308.93, county taxes $9,136.64, school 
taxes $5,130.60. Live stock — Horses 1,501, mules 831, cattle 
6,116, hogs 12,222, sheep 6,532. Public schools 86, white 68, 
colored 18. Churches 16. 



WILKES. 

Wilkes county lies west of Surry, and differs from it only in 
being more mountainous and rugged and having a greater 
average elevation — not less than 1,500 feet. Its northern mar- 
gin rests on the summits of the Blue Ridge (at an elevation of 
from 3,000 to 4,000 feet), its southern on the Brushy moun- 
tains (from 2,000 to 2,500 feet above sea level), and its whole 
surface is carved into a succession of mountain ridges and nar- 
row intervening valleys by the Yadkin and its numerous tribu- 
taries. Its agriculture and its forests may be described in the 
same terms as were those of Surry, except that, with the in- 
crease of elevation, the growth of chestnut increases, and a new 
forest element enters, to a small extent, in the white pine (P. 
strobw), both in the South mountains and on the flanks of 
the Blue Ridge. Along the margin of the Yadkin river and 
its larger tributaries are frequent and wide tracts of sandy and 
clay bottom lands. In various parts of the county are small 
areas of reddish clay soil, but much the larger part of it shows 
the average oak upland soil, yellow or gray sandy loam. The 
lighter soils are well adapted to the highest grades of tobacco, 
the culture of which begins to enter largely into its agricul- 
ture. Of the county area 20.10 per cent, is tilled land, of 
which only 0.13 per cent, is planted in cotton. The water 
power of the county is very large, the sources of its multitude 
of rivers having an elevaiion of from 2,000 to 3,000 feet above 
tide, and their mouths less than 1,000 feet. 

Population 19,181--White 17,257, colored 1,924. Area 626 
square miles, woodland 268,834 acres. Tilled lands 80,512 
acres, area planted in cotton 107 acres, in tobacco 110 acres, in 



128 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



corn 34,865 acres, in wheat 9,515 acres, in rye 5,236 acres, in 
oats 8,240 acres, in buckwheat 218 acres. Cotton production 
29 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.27 bale, 387 pounds 
seed-cotton, or 129 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggre- 
gate value $913,942, personal property $517,535, total $1,431,- 
477. State taxes $193.35, county taxes $3,840.02, school taxes 
$6,507.88. Live stock— Horses 1,867, mules 947, cattle 9,760, 
hogs 19,104, sheep 10,642. Public schools 80, white 72, col- 
ored 8. Churches 27. 



ALEXANDER. 

Alexander, one of the smallest counties in North Carolina, 
lies south of Wilkes, and is separated from it by the chain of 
the Brushy mountains. A large part of this county is traversed 
or penetrated by spurs and high ridges thrown off southward 
from that range, many of which rise to the elevation of 2,000 
feet, and its territory is drained southward by the tributaries 
of the Catawba. The southeastern section, as well as the mid- 
dle, is characterized largely by oak forests, with red-clay soils, 
the higher divides and ridges and spurs showing a large ad- 
mixture of pine and chestnut and a more open, light colored, 
and sandy soil. The northern, western, and northeastern sec- 
tions are quite broken and mountainous. The culture of cot- 
ton has entered the territory of this county within the last few 
years, though its product amounts to but a few scores of bales. 
Tobacco is cultivated to some extent on the lighter soils, but 
corn and wheat are the principal products. It has ample, but 
undeveloped, water-power, and it has iron-ore beds of consid- 
erable extent, as well as a great variety of other minerals. Of 
the county area, 26.51 per cent, is tilled land, of which 1.49 
per cent, is planted in cotton. 

Population 8,355— White 7,458, colored 897. Area 245 
square miles, woodland 82,690 acres. Tilled lands 41,572 
acres, area planted in cotton 617 acres, in tobacco 28 acres, in 
corn 16,789 acres, in wheat 6,376 acres, in rye 760 acres, in 
oats 7,503 acres. Cotton production 182 bales, average cotton 
product per acre, 0.29 bale, 420 pounds seed-cotton, or 140 
pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $650,034, 
personal property $329,409, total $979,443. State taxes $102.49, 
county taxes $2,663.66, school taxes $2,915.83. Live stock- 
Horses 912, mules 944, cattle 4,221, hogs 7,632, sheep 4,614. 
Public schools 48, white 40, colored 8. Churches 25. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 129 



CALDWELL. 

Caldwell county lies upon the flanks of the Blue Ridge, and 
extends southward beyond the Brushy mountains, a smaller 
and parallel range 2,000 feet and more in altitude. It is drained 
by the upper tributaries of the Catawba river and of the Yad- 
kin, the larger of which rise in the summits of the Blue Ridge 
and its culminating region in Grandfather mountain, which 
touches the elevation of nearly 6,000 feet above the sea. This 
mountain throws off a number of long, heavy spurs down to 
the middle of the county, and is traversed midway in a direc- 
tion parallel to the other two chains by the Warrior mountains, 
so that its surface is for the most part quite broken and rug- 
ged; but the different chains are separated by extensive open 
valleys, and there is a great area of river and creek bottoms. 
The lands in the middle and southern sections generally have 
a red clay or yellow sandy loam soil of more than medium fer- 
tility, while its higher regions, on the ridges and spurs of the 
mountains, are frequently slaty ledges, with gray sandy and 
gravelly soils of medium to low quality. Its forests are pre- 
dominantly of oak in the middle section and of pine and oak 
in the southern and northern — that is, in the more mountain- 
ous regions, while, in the latter section, white pine, hemlock 
and chestnut constitute a considerable element of the forest 
growth. The chief crops are grain, but tobacco culture has 
been recently introduced, and for a few years past a few bales 
of cotton have been raised in an experimental way. Of the 
county area, 13.10 per cent, is tilled land, of which 0.07 per 
cent, is cultivated in cotton. Of minerals the county contains 
gold and iron, the former in both placers and veins. 

Transportation is furnished by the Western North Carolina 
railroad, which crosses the neighboring counties south, and a 
narrow-gauge road is finished to the centre of the county. 

Population 10,291— White 8,691, colored 1,600. Area 495 
square miles, woodland 151,637 acres. Tilled lands 41,512 
acres, area planted in cotton 30 acres, in tobacco 75 acres, in 
corn 17,315 acres, in wheat 8,211 acres, in rye 684 acres, in 
oats 3,886 acres. Cotton production 12 bales, average cotton 
product per acre 0.40 bale, 570 pounds seed-cotton or 190 
pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $752,146, 
personal property $473,387, total $1,225,533, . State taxes 
$201.82, county taxes $4,310.71, school taxes $3,135.04. Live 
stock — Horses 1,088, mules 953, cattle 5,111, hogs 11,517, sheep 
5,332. Public schools 45, white 37, colored 8. Churches 24. 



130 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



BURKE. 

Burke county lies westward of Caldwell on both sides of the 
Catawba river, which traverses its middle section and drains 
its entire territory. Its southern flank lies upon the crests of 
the South mountains, which here reach an elevation of over 
3,000 feet above the sea and send off spurs in a northerly and 
northeasterly direction almost to the middle of the county. 
The northern end is elevated upon two of the most massive 
spurs of the Blue Ridge, Linville and Table Rock, which here 
rise to an elevation of nearly 4,000 feet; and from this are 
thrust out numerous long and rugged spurs and ridges in a 
southeasterly course. A large part of the territory of this 
county, therefore, is mountainous, and the average elevation is 
not less than 1,300 feet. In its middle section are consider- 
able tracts of red-clay soils, with forests predominantly of oak, 
hickory, etc, while the remainder of the county is character- 
ized in this respect by mixed forests of oak, pine, chestnut, 
etc., with white pine in the mountains of the south and north. 
The river and creek bottoms are very extensive and fertile, and 
have light-colored clays, loams, ^nd sandy soils. In the mid- 
dle section, on both sides of the river, the uplands usually 
have a red-clay soil and oak forests. The other parts of the 
county have soils of a lighter color, yellowish to gray loams, 
and forests of the usual mixed character of the region — oak, 
pine, chestnut, sourwood, dogwood, etc. Placer gold mines 
are numerous in the South mountains, and there are several 
vein mines on the north side of the county. Cotton and tobacco 
have been added to the list of cultivated crops within a few 
years, but grain forms the chief crop, and has an aggregate 
yield of 400,000 bushels. Of the county area, 13.59 per cent, 
is tilled land, of which 1.78 per cent, is planted in cotton. 

Transportation is by rail, east and west. 

Population 12,809— White 10,088, colored 2,721. Area 489 
square miles, woodland 129,089 acres. Tilled lands 42,545 
acres, ar^a planted in cotton 752 acres, in tobacco 58 acres, 
in corn 22,613 acres, in wheat 10,016 acres, in rye 1,054 acres, 
in oats 3,455 acres. Cotton production 361 bales, average 
cotton product per acre 0.48 bale, 684 pounds seed-cotton, or 
228 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value 
$670,983, personal property $535,782, total $1,006,765. State 
taxes $254.73, county taxes $13,548.65, school taxes $3,426.21. 
Live stock— Horses 1,249, mules 968, cattle 5,005, hogs 7,822, 
sheep 4,126. Public schools 61, white 48, colored 13. 
Churches 22. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 131 



Mcdowell. 

McDowell county lies on the eastern flank of the Blue Ridge 
near its highest parts, which exceeds in this region an eleva- 
tion of 5,500 feet, and its whole territory may be described as 
mountainous. Its average elevation is more than 1,500 feet, 
and it is for the most part drained by the headwaters of the 
Catawba river. The southern and broader end of its triangu- 
lar territory is traversed east and west by the South mountains, 
a long eastward projection or spur from the Blue Ridge. 
Along the course of the Catawba river and some of its chief 
tributaries are wide tracts of sandy and alluvial buttoms, 
which are very productive. The hilly and mountainous tracts 
have the usual variety of gray and yellowish oak uplands soils 
of medium fertility and mixed forests of oak, pine, chestnut, 
etc. Reddish clay loam soils, with a preponderant oak forest, 
are found in patches here and there in the middle and south- 
eastern sections. A large proportion of the soils of the county 
are well adapted to the better grades of tobacco, and the agri- 
culture of the county has the great advantage of an abundance 
of limestone in the northern and middle sections. Gold min- 
ing in the South mountains has long been an important indus- 
try, several mica mines having been opened, and some atten 
tion is given to lumbering. There is a large amount of valu- 
able timber on the slopes of the Blue Ridge and in the mount- 
ain coves, which must become' the foundation of important 
manufactures, and then there is an indefinite amount of water 
power. Iron ores of low grade are abundant. Of the county 
area 9.98 per cent, is tilled land, of which 0.07 per cent, is 
planted in cotton. 

Transportation is by rail, east and west. 

Population 9,836— White 7,936, colored 1,897. Area 545 
square miles, woodland 122,129 acres. Tilled lands 34,798 
acres, area planted in cotton 23 acres, in tobacco 100 acres, in 
corn 17,675 acres, in wheat 6,397 acres, in rye 1,360 acres, in 
oats 1,690 acres. Cotton production 9 bales, average cotton 
product per acre 0.39 bale, 558 pounds seed-cotton, or ,186 
pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $629,014, 
personal property $179,260, total $808,274. State taxes 
$189,29, county taxes $10,559.85, school taxes $2,630.84. 
Live stock — Horses 800, mules 710, cattle 5,125, hogs 5,013, 
sheep 3,125. Public schools 49, white 38, colored 11. 
Churches 22. 



132 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



POLK. 

Polk is the southernmost of the Piedmont counties, lying 
upon the border of South Carolina, and of the cotton belt, 
which barely enters its southeastern corner. Three-fourths of 
the territory of the county is very mountainous, as it is bounded 
westward by the Blue Ridge, and its western and northern 
sections are penetrated by heavy and long spurs, thrown out 
from that range, of equal height or greater. It is crossed from 
wost to east and nearly its entire territory is drained by the 
waters of Green river, one of the principal tributaries of the 
Broad. Along this river valley, as well as on some of the tribu- 
taries, are wide stretches of bottom lands of clay and sandy 
loams. The middle part of the county is a somewhat broken 
plateau of 1,000 feet elevation, and has a gravelly and slaty 
soil of a light color and loose texture and low fertility, and 
inferior forests of pine, oak, and chestnut The southeastern 
section is of the same character. A large part of the uplands 
and of the mountain slopes in the west and north has forests 
largely of oak and a yellowish or gray loamy soil of good 
quality. In the higher parts, r>xc<~pt where the soil is of the 
better grades, chestnut and chestnut oak are abundant. The 
principal agricultural pursuit is the production of grain crops, 
cotton being a new crop to the region, and as yet little culti- 
vated. There are several gold mines in the middle and south- 
ern sections. Of the county area 12.78 per cent, is tilled land, 
of which 7.83 per cent, is planted in cotton. Produce is ship- 
ped south by rail. 

Population 5,062— White 3,918, colored 1,144.. Area 257 
square miles, woodland 72,813 acres. Tilled lands 21,027 
acres, area planted in cotton 1,646 acres, in corn 10,632 acres, 
in wheat 1,896 acres, in rye 606 acres, in oats 877 acres. Cot- 
ton production 362 bales, average cotton product per acre 
0.22 bale, 312 pounds seed-cotton, or 104 pounds cotton lint. 
Real property, aggregate value $508,683. personal property 
$333,817, total $842,500. State taxes $82.50, county taxes 
$5,844.62, school taxes $2,358.25. Live stock— Horses 387, 
mules 431, cattle 2,768, hogs 4,565, sheep 1,714. Public 
schools 33, white 22, colored 11. Churches 18. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 133 



THE TRANSMONTANE REGION. 

(Embraces the following counties: Alleghany, Ashe, 
Watauga, Mitchell, Yancey, Madison, Buncombe, Hen- 
derson, Transylvania, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain, 
Graham, Clay and Cherokee.) 

ALLEGHANY. 

Alleghany county is situated on the Virginia border, and 
is bounded southward by the curves of the Blue Ridge. In 
its middle section is a parallel and higher chain. Its entire 
surface is* drained northward into the New and Kanawha rivers, 
this, with the two following counties, constituting the New 
River plateau or basin, the only part of the State drained by 
the Ohio. It lies on the northeastern end of the long, narrow, 
elevated transmontane plateau, and has an average elevation 
of not less than 2,800 feet. Its forests are of oak, chestnut 
and pine, with an admixture of white pine in the coves of the 
Blue Ridge and between that and the Peach Bottom range. 
Its soils are the common gray and yellow upland loams. Along 
the banks of the New river and its principal tributaries, espe- 
cially Little river, are considerable tracts of bottom lands. Its 
agriculture is divided between the production of grains and 
grasses and cattle raising. Its products of buckwheat and rye 
are next to the largest in the State. Of the county area, 26.15 
per cent, is tilled land. 

Population 5,486— White 4,-967, colored 519. Area 276 
square miles, woodland 74,859 acres. Tilled lands, 46,198 
acres, area planted in cotton none, in corn 7,201 acres, in 
wheat 1,760 acres, in rye 3,121 acres, in oats 1,933 acres, in 
buckwheat 755 acres. Real property, aggregate value $407,340, 
personal property $125,392, total $532', 732. State taxes $38.10, 
county taxes $2,663.66, school taxes $2,915.83. Live stock- 
Horses 1,150, mules 150, cattle 4,822, hogs, 3,600, sheep 5,067. 
Public schools 33, white 29, colored 4. Churches 14. 



ASHE. 

Ashe county lies in the northwestern corner of the State, ad- 
joining the States of Virginia and Tennessee, its southeastern 
edge resting upon the summits of the Blue Ridge mb'untain 



134 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

chain. It is very rugged and mountainous, the spurs of the 
Smoky mountains being thrust out almost across its entire ter- 
ritory and reaching at various points an elevation of nearly 
5,000 feet, giving an average elevation of 3,500 feet above tide. 
It is drained by the two forks of New river, which meet in its 
northeast corner. Its forests, soils, and agriculture resemble 
those of Alleghany" county. Grass and cattle count for much 
in this region, and rye and buckwheat are its common crops, 
as well as of Alleghany and the whole transmontane plateau. 
In the former (rye) this county shows the largest product in 
the State, and in the second it is nearly equal to the best. 
White pine and hemlock, as well as poplar, sugar maple, wild 
cherry, and walnut, become important constituents of the for- 
ests in many places. Of the county area 29.65 per cent, is 
tilled land. 

Population 14,437— White 13,471, colored 966. Area 370 
square miles, woodland 166,973 acres. Tilled lands 70,207 
acres, area planted in cotton none, in tobacco 60 acres, in 
corn 15,616 acres, in wheat 5,473 acres, in rye 4,685 acres, in 
oats 3,357 acres, in buckwheat 818 acres. Real property, ag- 
gregate value $759,123, personal property $580,775, total $1,- 
339.898. State taxes $161.94, school taxes S3, 863. 95. Live 
stock— Horses 2,544, mules 468, cattle 12,005, hogs 12,508, 
sheeo 13,236. Public schools 86, white 80, colored 6. Churches 
12. 



WATAUGA. 

Watauga county occupies the whole breadth of the narrower 
part of the transmontane plateau, being bounded for the most 
part northwestward by the Smoky range and southeastward 
by the Blue Ridge. It is traversed in a northerly course by 
two massive cross-chains connecting the summits of the Blue 
Ridge and Smoky mountains, the Rich mountains and the 
chain of Hanging Rock and Bfech. Its average elevation 
would about equal that of Ashe county — 3,500 feet. Its whole 
surface is rugged and mountainous, with the exception of a 
few limited tracts along the two principal rivers, where con- 
siderable valleys open out, with occasional stretches of bottom 
lands. The soils and forests, as well as the predominant agri- 
cultural features of this county, are like those of Ashe county. 
There is great abundance of chestnut in its forests, and on the 
Rich mountains there are great quantities of linden (TiUa). 
Its high levels and benches are the best grass lands in the 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 135 

State, and in consequence cattle-raising enters largely into its 
agriculture. It also produces corn and small grains in consid- 
erable quantities, including wheat, rye, and buckwheat, the 
county leading in the last-named crop. Of the county area, 
18.89 per cent, is tilled land, of which very little is cultivated 
in cotton. 

Population 8,160— White 7,746, colored 414. Area 370 

square miles, woodland acres. Tilled lands 44,753 

acres, area planted in cotton 10 acres, in corn 8,227 acres, in 
wheat 2,957 acres, in rye 2,387 acres, in oats 1,828 acres, in 
buckwheat 951 acres. Cotton production 3 bales, average 
cotton product per acre 0.30 bale, 429 pounds seed-cotton, or 
143 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value 
$771,975, personal property $423,522, total $1,195,497. State 
taxes $96.18, county taxes $3,427.04, school taxes $3,171.67, 
Live stock — Horses 1,516, mules 515, cattle 7,099, hogs 7,924, 
sheep 8,941. Public schools 44, white 42, colored 2. Churches 
19. 



MITCHELL. 

Mitchell county is a continuation of the southern Appalach- 
ian plateau, and with Yancey, the next county described, oc- 
cupies the basin of the Nolechucky or Toe river, which drains 
the highest masses and summits of the Blue Ridge and Black 
mountains. On its northern border the Smoky mountains 
reach an elevation of 6,400 feet, while the Blue Ridge, which 
forms its southeastern boundary, has an elevation ranging from 
3,000 to nearly 6,000 feet. Its surface is for the most part 
very mountainous, and has an elevation which would probably 
reach an average of 3,000 feet above the sea. 

The mountains of this county, as well as those of the other 
parts of the plateau, are generally covered with heavy forests 
of oak, chestnut, and pine, with a mixture here and there in 
the coves and on the higher slopes of white pine, hemlock 
{Abies Canadensis), and black birch, while the lower slopes are 
covered with linden (two species), sugar maple, poplar, wal- 
nut, cherry, ash, etc. 

The soils of this county vary in their texture and composi- 
tion, and belong to the general region of oak uplands soils, 
being for the most part gray and yellow gravelly and sandy 
loams, with occasional strips of red lands. The mountains 
here, as in the two preceding counties, are generally covered 
to their summits with a fertile soil and heavy forests, the ex- 



136 HAND-BOOK OF NOETH CAROLINA. 

ception being some of the higher dome-like masses of the 
Smoky mountains (notably the Roan), which are bald upon 
their summits, and are, in fact, simply prairies. The average 
elevation of this county above the sea will exceed 3,000 feet. 
Its agriculture resembles that of the two preceding counties, 
the conditions being well adapted for the most part to cattle- 
raising, as well as to the production of grain crops. Tobacco 
culture has recently been introduced, but mica mining is the 
most important and profitable industry, while along its north- 
ern border are some of the finest iron-ore beds known. The 
first southern mica mines were opened here in 1868. Of the. 
county area, 12.46 per cent, is tilled land, of which 0.05 per 
cent, is cultivated in cotton. 

Population 9,435— White 8,932, colored 503. Area 401 
square miles, woodland 105,586 acres. Tilled lands 31,975 
acres, area planted in cotton 15 acres, in tobacco 77 acres, in 
corn 11,894 acres, in wheat 3,374 acres, in rye 1,358 acres, in 
oats 3,990 acres, in buckwheat 378 acres. Cotton production 
6 bales, average cotton product per acre, 0.40 bale, 570 pounds 
seed-cotton, or 190 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggre- 
gate value $364,037, personal property $119,485, total $483,522. 
State taxes $165.38, county taxes $3,494.02, school taxes 
$2,655.40. Live stock— Horses 1,094, mules 321, cattle 3,521, 
hogs 6,810, sheep 3,964. Public schools 40, white 37, colored 3. 
Churches 48. 



YANCEY. 

The description of Mitchell, the preceding county, applies 
to Yancey. It completes with that the basin of the Toe river 
or Nolechucky, one of the main affluents of the Tennessee river. 
The massive spur of the Black mountains rises in the middle 
of its southern end and projects northward almost to its centre. 
This spur reaches an elevation in its middle portion of nearly 
7,000 feet, and is the highest mountain east of the Mississippi 
river. Between this mountain spur and the Blue Ridge is a 
deep, narrow valley, in which rises and flows South Toe river, 
while on its westward flanks rises, in a similar gorge, Caney 
river, another of the confluents of the Nolechuckyr The county 
is bounded on the southwest by a cross-chain from the Blue 
Ridge to the Smoky mountains, the northwest Black moun- 
tains, which, through a considerable part of its course, reaches 
an elevation of 5,000 feet and upward. The whole territory of 
this county, therefore, is exceedingly rugged and mountainous, 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 137 

and the larger part of its surface is adapted only to grazing; 
but in the valleys and troughs between the mountain spurs and 
ranges are considerable stretches of undulating and hilly land 
and occasional tracts of considerable extent of bottomland, 
which are very productive in corn and small grains. The cul- 
ture of tobacco has also penetrated into this county within the 
last few years. The tilled land occupies 19.65 per cent of the 
county area. The timbers and soils are similar to those of 
Mitchell county, and mica mining holds here a similar place of 
importance. Above 5,000 feet the principal growth on the 
Black mountains is two species of fir, Abies Fraseri and A. nigra 
(spruce). These trees are also found on the summits of the 
Roan and Grandfather, and farther west on the Balsam moun- 
tains. Lumber mills have multiplied very rapidly in the great 
forests of the last three counties, and enormous quantities of 
cherry, walnut, ash, sugar-maple and poplar lumber have been 
manufactured and exported in the last year. 

Population 7,694— White 7,369, colored 325. Area 276 
square miles, woodland 109,776 acres. Tilled lands 34,703 
acres, area planted in cotton, none, in tobacco 84 acres, in corn 
11,200 acres, in wheat 3,940 acres, in rye 1,290 acres, in oats 
3,657 acres. Real property, aggregate value $259,441, personal 
property $238,590, total $498,031. State taxes $110.53, county 
taxes $5,084.46, school taxes $2,017.04. Live stock — Horses 
1,077, mules 595, cattle 4,824, hogs 7,326, sheep 4,338. Pub- 
lie schools 37, white 35, colored 2. Churches 12. 



MADISON. 

Madison county, with Buncombe, Henderson and Transyl- 
vania, make the plateau or basin of the French Broad the 
largest of these natural subdivisions of the plateau. It is 
bounded northward by the Smoky mountains. Its territory is 
also very rugged and broken, being not only surrounded by 
heavy, massive chains of mountains, but crossed and cut up by 
heavy spurs of those principal chains. Its soils, forests and 
agricultural productions are like those of the preceding coun- 
ties, except that bright yellow tobacco has recently become its 
most important crop, and already nearly reaches a million 
pounds per annum. It has also a larger proportion of white 
pine in its forests, and its iron-ore deposits are extensive and 
valuable. Of the county area, 19.66 per cent, is tilled land, 
of which 0.02 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 



138 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Population 12,810— White 12,351, colored 459. Atea 457 
square miles, woodland 157,618 acres. Tilled lands 57,490 
acres, area planted in cotton 12 acres, in tobacco 1,626 
acres, in corn 17,816 acres, in wheat 7,702 acres, in rye 816 
acres, in oats 4,238 acres. Cotton production 4 bales, average 
cotton product per acre 0.33 bale, 474 pounds seed-cotton, or 
158 pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value 
$714,477, personal property $482,970,. total $1,1.97,741. State 
tasres $455.91, county taxes $13,762.76, school taxes $3,870.47. 
Live stock — Horses 1,496, mules 1,'037, cattle 7,455, hogs 
12,027, sheep 7,152. Public schools 49, white 48, colored 1. 
Churches 20. 



BUNCOMBE. 

Buncombe county occupies the middle portion of the French 
Broad valley. Its eastern border lies upon the summits of the 
Blue Ridge and the Black mountains, and its western upon the 
summits of the cross-chain called the Newfound mountains. 
The valley of the French Broad here is a wide, open basin, 
with considerable tracts of undulating and hilly land and 
moderately mountainous tracts, while along its margin on 
every side are heavy mountain spurs. The forests and soils 
are of the usual familiar description, and the agriculture re- 
sembles in its main features that of the Piedmont division, 
consisting chiefly of the production of grains, of which the 
total is 650,000 bushels, and to a moderate (but rapidly in- 
creasing) extent of tobacco. Cattle-raising occupies a subor- 
dinate position. The tilled lands occupy 19.75. per cent, of 
the county area. The crossing of two great railroad lines at 
Asheville, in the centre of the county, gives it a commanding 
commercial position, and it is the centre of a great summer 
travel. The average elevation of the French Broad plateau is 
about 2,500 feet. 

Population 21,909— White 18,422, colored 3,487. Area 614 
square miles, woodland 226,454 acres. Tilled lands 77,628 
acres, area planted in cotton 1 acre, in tobacco 947 acres, in 
coin 29,108 acres, in wheat 17,501 acres, in rye 2,966 acres, 
in oats 6,967 acres, in buckwheat 575 acres. Real property, 
aggregate value $2,598,483, personal property $1,112,974, total 
$3,711,457. State taxes $1,579.42, county taxes $29,569.44, 
school taxes $9,066.18. Live stock — Horses 2,782, mules 
1,495, cattle 12,363, hogs 11,981, sheep 8,888. Public schools 
94, white 80, colored 14. Churches 62. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 139 



HENDERSON. 

Henderson county is a continuation southward of the French 
Broad valley described in Buncombe county, and its topo- 
graphical features are very similar, except that there are 
broader areas of comparatively level and undulating lands, 
but of less fertility, the soils being predominantly light pray 
gravelly loams, and its forests being mixed growths of oak 
and pine, with hemlock and chestnut. Near the water courses, 
in the mountain coves, are found walnut, cherry, maple, and 
occasionally white pine. The chief productions of this county 
are corn and small grains, the culture of tobacco being very 
recently introduced, and then only to a very small extent. 
There is a large aggregate surface of bottom lands in the 
county, those on the French Broad being very extensive and 
fertile. Of the county area 17.18 per cent, is tilled land, of 
which 0.03 per cent, is cultivated in cotton. 

Transportation is southward by rail. 

Population 10,281— White 8,893, colored 1,388. Area 351 
square miles, woodland 106,441 acres. Tilled lands 38,595 
acres, area planted in cotton 10 acres, in tobacco 29 acres, in 
corn 16,407 acres, in wheat 2,598 acres, in rye 3,734 acres, 
in oats 2,908 acres, in buckwheat 107 acres. Cotton pro- 
duction 4 bales, average cotton product per acre 0.40 
bale, 570 pounds seed-cotton, or 190 pounds cotton 
lint. Real propertv, aggregate value $991,049, personal 
property $402,938, total $1,393,987. State taxes $448.58, 
county taxes $15,680.85, school taxes $3,520.28. Livestock 
— Horses 1,070, mules 478, cattle 5,672, hogs 7,070, sheep 
7,175. Public schools 53, white 42, colored 11. Churches 24. 



TRANSYLVANIA. 

Transylvania county occupies the upper portion of the val- 
ley of the French Broad, and lies along the flanks of the Blue 
Ridge and on the southern border of the State. It is bounded 
westward by a heavy cross-chain from the Blue Ridge to the 
Smoky mountains, the Balsam mountains, which rises through- 
out a considerable part of its course above 6,000 feet. This 
county is therefore the most elevated portion of the plateau of 
the French Broad. It is mostly mountainous and rugged, 
with spurs and knobs of mountains thrust out from the cross- 
chains which bound it. There are very extensive tracts of bot- 
tom lands along the tortuous course of the French Broad, 



140 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

reaching often a breadth of 1 or 2 miles, which are very fer- 
tile and produce immense crops of corn. The larger portion 
of the county, however, is only adapted to grazing. Its for- 
ests resemble those of the plateau generally, but contain a 
larger intermixture of white pine, as well as of hemlock, sugar 
maple, walnut, and cherry. The tilled lands occupy 7.35 per 
cent, of the county area. 

Population 5,340— White 4,823, colored 517. Area 382 
square miles, woodland 77,815 acres. Tilled lands 17,967 acres, 
area planted in cotton none, in corn 9,762 acres, in wheat 
869 acres, in rye 3,289 acres, in oats 257 acres. Real property, 
aggregate value $421,357, personal property $182,008, total 
$603,365. State taxes $80.76, county taxes $6,712.50, school 
taxes $1,621.57. Live stock — Horses 651, mules 321, cattle 
5,077, hogs 6,497, sheep 5,003. Churches 12. 



HAYWOOD. 

Haywood county occupies the plateau or basin between the 
parallel cross-chains of the Newfound and the Balsam moun- 
tains which lie at right angles to the main chains (the Blue 
Ridge and Smoky) at an average distance from each other of 
about 20 miles. 

This basin is drained by the waters of Pigeon river, one of 
the tributaries of the French Broad, which enters it beyond 
the Smoky mountains in Tennessee. This county is hemmed 
in on all sides by high mountain chains Of 3,000, 5,000 and 
6,000 feet and more above the sea. Its territory is exceedingly 
broken and rugged; yet there are considerable tracts of open, 
moderately hilly lands along the water courses, and occasional 
wide stretches of fertile bottoms, especially on the upper con- 
fluents of the river and near the middle of the basin. The 
average elevation is above 3,000 feet. 

The soils are of the ususal description, and are above aver- 
age fertility. It is one of the best grazing sections, and pro- 
duces all the grain crops of the region, including rye and 
buckwheat, but, as yet, little tobacco. The mountains are 
clothed to their summits with forests of a great range of spe- 
cies. On the lower slopes and in, the rich coves, besides the 
usual characteristic oaks, hickories, cucumbers, poplar, chest- 
nut, etc., are found in abundance walnut, black locust, cherry 
and ash, and a little higher sugar maple, linden, black birch 
and beech, and on the highest ranges two species of fir. Since 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 141 

the advent of the railroad lumbering is rapidly becoming an 
important industry. The tilled land occupies 10.87 per cent, 
of the county area. 

Population 10,271— White 9,787, colored 484. Area 582 
square miles, woodland 115,632 acres. Tilled lands 40,474 
acres, area planted in cotton none, in tobacco 100 acres, in 
corn 17,254 acres, in wheat 10,054 acres, in rye 757 acres, in 
oats 4,099 acres, in buckwheat 633 acres. Real property, 
aggregate value $1,061,105, personal property $513,581, total 
$1,574,686. State taxes $309.05, county taxes $9,531.83, school 
taxes $3,712.98. Live stock— Horses 1,729, mules 675, cattle 
8,588, hogs 10,794, sheep 7,643. Public schools 57, white 47, 
colored 4. Churches 21. 



JACKSON. 

Jackson county is quite similar to Haywood in its topogra- 
phical and agricultural features, but is more rugged, and has 
less open bottom and \ alley land. It occupies the basin of 
the Tuckasegee river, a tributary of the Tennessee, lies west 
of the Balsam mountains, is bounded by the Cowee cross-chain 
on the west and extends south to the Blue Ridge, and includes 
a high plateau beyond it of nearly 100 square miles, with an 
elevation of from 3,500 to 4,000 feet above sea level. The 
county is well adapted to the production of grass. The soils, 
forests, and productions are like those of Haywood. Mica is 
mined in the county in many places, and gold is found on the 
plateau south of the Blue Ridge. Of the county area 8.4 per 
cent, is under tillage, and of this 0.06 per cent, is in cotton. 
A railroad has been recently graded across the county. 

Population 7,343— White 6,591, colored 752. Area 532 
square miles, woodland 136,317 acres. Tilled lands 28,606 
acres, area planted in cotton 16 acres, in corn 12,793 acres, in 
wheat 4,217 acres, in rye 1,583 acres, in oats 1,521 acres, in 
buckwheat 175 acres. Cotton production 6 bales, average cot- 
ton product per acre 0.38 bale, 534 pounds seed-cotton, or 178 
pounds cotton lint. Real property, aggregate value $479,079, 
personal property $224,126, total $703,205. State taxes 
$121.40, county taxes $5,504-82, school taxes $1,988.65. Live 
Stock— Horses 1,042, mules 540, cattle 5,821, hogs 9,146, 
sheep 4, 907. Public schools 36, white 33, colored 3. Churches 9. 



142 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

MACON. 

Macon county occupies the valley of the Tennessee river, 
wrrch flows through its centre from beyond the Georgia bor- 
der, on the south, toward the Smoky mountains. This is a 
wide, open valley, along which are considerable bodies of com- 
paratively level and hilly lands, with extensive bottoms along 
the river and its principal tributaries, recalling in its general 
features the basin of the French Broad, though much less ex- 
tensive. The county is better adapted to the cultivation of 
grains and has a larger area capable of such cultivation than 
the neighboring counties; but a large part of its territory is 
very mountainous, being hemmed in on all sides by high moun- 
tain ranges. Along its western side lies the massive chain of 
the Nantehaleh mountains, with its numerous heavy, ragged 
spurs, and on the western margin is a deep cation, drained by 
the river of the same name. There are two notable plateaus 
in the south end of the count}' on the summit of the Blue 
Ridge, one on the headwaters of the east fork of the Tennes- 
see, and the other on those of the Nantehaleh, both of them 
ranging from 3,500 to 4,000 feet in altitude. 

The larger part of the area of the county is, therefore, 
better adapted to grazing than to anything else. The soils 
and forests are like those of the counties above described. 
The tilled land comprises 9.46 per cent, of the county area. 
The culture of tobacco has been recently introduced to a small 
extent, and mica mining is carried on extensively. There are 
also considerable deposits of iron ore, and the only extensive 
or profitable corundum mine in this country is found here. 
The beautiful red marble is found on the Nantehaleh river. A 
railroad has been recently graded across the northern end of 
the county. 

Population 8,064— White 7,395, colored 669. Area 539 
square miles, woodland 170,170 acres. Tilled lands 32,630 
acres, area planted in cotton none, in tobacco 46 acres, in corn 
14.423 acres, in wheat 5,565 acres, in rye 1,823 acres, in oats 
1,621 acres. Real property, aggregate value $582,911, per- 
sonal property $339,874, total $922,785. State taxes $256.79, 
county taxes $6,335.68, school taxes $4,323.60. Live stock- 
Horses 1,322, mules 786, cattle 6,918, hogs 11,020, sheep 
7,492. Public schools 44, white 40, colored 4. Churches 25. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 143 



SWAIN. 

Swain county lies north of Macon and Jackson, along the 
waters of the Tennessee river, and on the flanks of the great 
Smoky mountains on the north, which here reach their culmi- 
nation in elevations of nearly 6,700 feet. With the exception 
of some open valley tracts near its centre, along the before- 
mentioned river and its tributaries, the territory of this county 
is exceedingly rugged and broken. The proportion of culti- 
vable land is very small. It is heavily timbered, even to the 
highest summits of the Smoky mountains, with the prevalent 
mountain forest growths. The higher levels of the Smoky 
mountains, about 5,000 feet above sea-level, are covered with 
forests of firs, while the more elevated coves abound in white 
pine and hemlock, and its deep gorges and lower slopes with 
maple, poplar, linden, hickory, chestnut, buckeye, walnut, 
magnolias and cherry. The summits of the high mountains 
furnish fine natural pasturage, and grazing has always been 
the chief industry. The approach of the railroad, which has 
been graded through its middle section, will speedily develop 
an extensive lumber interest. The tilled land occupies 4.86 
per cent, of the county area. 

Population 3,784— White 3,234, colored 550. Area 445 square 
miles, woodland 107,825 acres. Tilled lands 13,828 acres, area 
planted in cotton none, in corn 6,809 acres, in wheat 1,473 
acres, in rye 515 acres, in oats 757 acres. Real property, 
aggregate value $390,997, personal property $112,225, total 
$503,222. State taxes $115.86, county taxes $4,666.29, school 
taxes $1,291.65. Live stock — Horses 548, mules 199. cattle 
3,210, hogs 4,375, sheep 3,192. Churches 9. 



GRAHAM. 

Graham county, lying south of the Tennessee river, is 
bounded on the west by the Smoky mountains and on the south 
by a high cross-chain called Long Ridge. It resembles Swain 
county very closely in its physical as well as its agricultural 
features.. Its forests are a continuation of those of Swain, ex- 
cept that the mountains here do not reach the elevation neces- 
sary to produce the fir. There is some open valley and hilly 
land on the Cheowah river and its tributaries, which drains 
most of its surface. Its population is small, and its agricul- 
ture little developed, as there are no accessible markets. Its 



144 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

soils and timber are capable of becoming the basis of thriving 
industries as soon as the projected Rabun Gap and Knoxville 
railroad shall be completed. The tilled land occupies 4. 18 per 
cent, of the county area. 

Population 2,335— White 2,123, colored 212. Area 307 
square miles, woodland 49,767 acres. Tilled lands 8,212 acres, 
area planted in cotton none, in corn 4,222 acres, in wheat 
718 acres, in rye 566 acres, in oats 628 acres. Real property, 
aggregate value $216,685, personal property $82,268, total 
$298,953. State taxes $42.95, county taxes $2,915.95, school 
taxes 8760.56. Live stock— Horses 333, mules 115, cattle 2,592, 
hogs 4,285, sheep 2,643. Public schools 13, white 13. 
Churches 7. 



CLAY. 



The small county of Clay, lying on the southern border^ 
touches the State of Georgia, and is bounded on the east by 
Macon county, which it resembles very closely in all its feat- 
ures, physical and agricultural, and in its development. It is 
drained in a westerly direction by the Hiwassee river, which 
takes its rise in the Blue Ridge, in Georgia. Its eastern sec- 
tion lies upon the high plateau of the upper Nantehaleh river, 
and on the north lies the chain of the Koneteh mountains. A 
large part of its territory is very mountainous. It has fine, 
open valley lands on the river and its tributaries. Its south- 
ern section is hilly, somewhat mountainous, with fair agricul- 
tural capabilities. Both gold and mica are found, but have 
not been mined on any considerable scale. The tilled land 
occupies 12.45 per cent, of the county area. 

Population 3,316— White 3,175, colored 141. Area 189 
square miles, woodland 60,606 acres. Tilled lands 15,063 
acres, area planted in cotton none, in tobacco 25 acres, in corn 
7,810 acres, in wheat 3,282 acres, in rye 854 acres, in oats 1,230 
acres. Real property, aggregate value $201,459, personal 
property $134,986, total $836,445. State taxes $86.45, county 
taxes $3,003.27, school taxes $980.81. Live stock— Horses 
556, mules 466, cattle 3,300, hogs 4,536,sheep 3,475. Churches 
14. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF COUNTIES. 145 



CHEROKEE. 

Cherokee county occupies the extreme western corner of the 
State, of which it includes the whole breadth, at this point 
less than 20 miles. It is bounded in part on the north by the 
Smoky mountains, and touches the States of Tennessee and 
Georgia on the west and south. For the most part it resembles 
Clay county in its soils and agriculture. The valley of the 
Valley river is open and comparatively level, with extensive 
bottoms and bordering hilly lands. This valley is nearly 20 
miles long and from 3 to 5 miles broad, and contains a large 
proportion of fine agricultural lands. The forests resemble 
those of the neighboring counties, and have been sufficiently 
described. Its agriculture is divided between the culture of 
grains and grasses and cattle-raising, and mines of gold, iron 
and soapstone have been opened and wrought for many years. 
The iron-ore deposits are of great extent, and there is a great 
variety of colored marble on Valley and Nantehaleh rivers 
which needs only transportation* to become valuable. The 
tilled lands occupy 9.51 per cent, of the county area. . 

Population 8,183— White 7,796, colored 386. Area 470 
square miles, woodland 149,156 acres. Tilled lands 28,603 
acres, area planted in cotton, none, in tobacco 42 acres, in corn 
14,507 acres, in wheat 4,317 acres, in rye 1,126 acres, in oats 
1,534 acres. Real property, aggregate value $529,925, per- 
sonal property $425,538, total $955,463. State taxes $106.40, 
county taxes $7,379.34, school taxes $2,029.83, Live stock — 
Horses 959, mules 460, cattle 6,381, hogs 8,241, sheep 7,016. 
Public schools 25, white 24, colored 1. Churches 21. 



MINERALS. 



Iron Ores. 



The ores of iron are very widely distributed in this 
State, their occurrence being not only coextensive with 
the area of the Archaean* (or Azoic) rocks, but extending 
over a part of the Mesozoic, and even into the Quater- 
nary. And these occurrences include all the principal 
kinds of ore -Magnetite, Hematite, Limonite and Side- 
rite, and most of their varieties and modifications. But 
as many of these forms occur in association or close 
proximity, it will avoid confusion to consider them by 
districts — to group them geographically. We begin 
with the most easterly occurrences. 

Limonite Ores of the East. — The clayey, sandy and 
earthy accumulations of the Eastern Section, which have 
been previously described as Quaternary, contain in 
many places a rough, brown ore, more or less earthy, or 
sandy, either in beds two to three, or four feet in thick- 
ness, or more frequently in sheets, or layers of irregu- 
larly shaped lumps or nodules. One of the most con- 
siderable of these deposits occurs in the southern end of 
Nash county near the Wilson line. It lies on the mar- 



IRON ORES. 147 

gin of Toisnot swamp. The thickness is two to three 
feet, and its extent horizontally about fifty yards by one 
hundred and fifty. It is known as the Blomary Iron 
Mine, from the fact that iron had been made from this 
ore in a Catalan forge, a few miles south, during the war 
of 1812. Iron was also made here during the Confed- 
erate war in a furnace erected on the spot. 

An analysis gives iron 42.73. This analysis places 
the ore among the best of its class. 

A second deposit, reported to be abundant in super- 
ficial nodules and irregular lumps, is found in the south- 
ern part of Duplin county, near Wallace, on the farm of 
D. T. Boney. 

Another bed of the same chaiacter and appearance, 
except in the size of the nodules, which are rather small, 
occurs in a field about two miles north of Rucky Point, 
in Pender. 

Hematites of Halifax and Granville. — On the hills 
fronting the Roanoke, less than a mile below Gaston, 
are several outcrops of hematite ore. There are two 
principal beds, of which the lower only has been opened. 
The ore is granular for the most part, and of the variety 
known as specular, but contains a considerable percent- 
age of magnetic grains disseminated through it. The 
principal bed is about twenty inches thick at the surface. 
It gave on analysis 63.76 per cent, of iron, and 0.09 of 
phosphorus. 

About five miles southward from the above locality the 
same bed makes its appearance on the farm of Mr. 



148 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Hines; here, however, it is highly magnetic, fine grained 
and dense, although still showing the decidedly slaty 
structure of the first of the Gaston beds. At this point 
it is reported as three to four feet thick. 

These ores are of conspicuous purity and obviously 
adapted to the manufacture of the higher grades of iron 
and of steel. And there is evidently a range of ore 
beds here of considerable extent. 

Iron Ores of Johnston and Wake. — There is, accord- 
ing to Dr. Emmons, "a large deposit" of limonite four 
miles west of Smithfield. 

Another "bluff" of limonite is referred to by Em- 
mons as found at Whitaker's, seven miles southwest of 
Raleigh, in Wake county. 

Iron Ores of Chatham and Orange. — One of the best 
known and most important iron mines of this region is 
on the borders of Harnett, the Buckhorn Mine. It is 
about seven miles below the forks of the Cape Fear, on 
a hill nearly two hundred feet high, overlooking the 
river from the left bank. It is massive at the outcrop, 
and breaks out in large angular blocks. Some parts of 
the bed are slightly magnetic. The thickness is about 
thirty-six feet at this point, and diminishes to twenty at 
the lower quarries, two hundred to three hundred yards 
distant. 

The ore is properly described as specular. The char- 
acter of this ore is very like that of the Iron Mountain, 
Missouri, and its extent and mode of occurrence strongly 
suggest the Pilot Knob. It is at least equal to either of 



IKON ORES. 149 

these notable iron ore deposits in quantity, and is equally 
pure, and has the advantage of both in the presence of 
large percentages of manganese, and the capacity to pro- 
duce spiegeleisen without admixture of other ores. 

About one mile north of the Buchhorn Mine is a 
small vein about one foot thick, of a highly magnetic 
ore. An analysis of this ore, by Mr. C. E. Buck, gave 
56.57 per cent, of iron and 1.51 of titanic acid. 

Besides the localities already mentioned, a number of 
additional outcrops of ore have been noted, mostly mag- 
netic; one, for example, two miles north of Buckhorn 
(at Dewar's), yielding 57.77 per cent, of iron (no 
phosphorus or sulphur), and three or four others in a 
southwest direction, for ten miles, to the head waters of 
Little river. 

Near Haywood, in the angle formed by the junction 
of the Haw and Deep rivers, in the red sandstone of the 
Triassic, there has been opened a series of parallel beds 
of a red-ochreous earthy ore, on the lands of Dr. Smith. 
The only bed exposed at the time of my visit was twenty 
to twenty-five inches thick, dipping southeast with the 
sandstone, 20° to 30°. The ore has a rough likeness to 
the "Clinton" or " Fossil" ore of New York, &c, and 
the "Dystone" of Tennessee, but has a much coarser 
and more irregular texture. The ore is partly limonite, 
but seems to be largely changed to red hematite. 

This ore makes its appearance again about a mile from 
Sanford, some twelve miles distant, where it was opened 
and worked to some extent during the late war. Only 



loO HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

one bed is exposed here, which is about twenty inches 
thick. The ore is easily dug and shoveled from the bed 
and crumbles into a heap of very coarse, reddish-brown 
gravel, a rough sort of shot ore. 

The next ores demanding attention are the Black 
Band and Ball ore, or " kidney ore" of the coal meas- 
ure. These are earthy and calcareous carbonates of iron, 
imbedded in the black carbonaceous shales which enclose 
the coal, or interstratify with the coal itself. These ores 
seem to be coextensive with the coal on Deep river, 
outcropping everywhere with it, and at several places 
outside of its limits. 

Emmons also speaks of another seam of argillaceous 
carbonate as occurring at the depth of two hundred and 
thirty feet in the shaft at Egypt, and four occurrences 
of it are indicated as ball ore in the Egypt section. 
Emmons says of this argillaceous carbonate: "It con- 
tains 33 per cent, of metallic iron ; the surface ores be- 
ing altered contain 50 per cent.;" and he describes it as 
occurring "in balls, or in continuous beds." - About the 
Gulf it occurs in rounded flattish masses, five or six to 
eight or ten iuches in diameter. They are dense, un- 
crystalline and heavy, of a light gray to drab color, and 
are pretty thickly distributed in parallel layers of one to 
two or three feet thickness. An analysis of Prof. 
SchsefFer, as given in Admiral Wilkes's report to the Sec- 
retary of the Navy in 1858, is as follows: Protoxide of 
iron, 40 per cent.; silica, 13; earthy matter 13; carbo- 
naceous matter, 34, This is evidently a black band ore. 



IRON ORES. 151 

The seam of black band between the main coal beds 
in the Egypt shaft, is stated by Wilkes to be sixteen 
inches, the lower one to consist of two thicknesses of 
three, feet each, separated by a thin seam of coal between. 
An analysis by Schaeffer for Wilkes gives only 17 per 
cent, of iron, and 42 of carbonaceous matter; specific 
gravity 2.12. 

The Evans vein is about six miles north of the Gulf, 
on the Graham road. It is six feet thick. This ore is 
a hematite. 

But the most noted iron locality in Chatham county 
is known as Ore Hill. The ore is limonite, with the ex- 
ception of one vein near the top and back of the hill, 
which is a hematite (in part specular), and much resem- 
bling the Evans ore. There is much of this ore on the 
surface in scattered fragments, indicating a vein of con- 
siderable extent, which, however, had not been exposed. 
Most of the other veins have been opened, but the pits 
and tunnels were so much filled and fallen in that no 
accurate measurements could be taken. But it was easy 
to see that two or three of them were very large— ten, 
fifteen feet, and upwards. 

This ore was worked on a considerable scale during 
the American Revolution, and again during the late 
civil war, and the iron is reported to have been of good 
quality; and it is obviously an ore very readily smelted. 
The presence of the hematite vein and the proximity of 
the ball ore, which was successfully used as a flux in the 
last working of the furnace, furnish admirable condi- 
tions for advantageous iron manufacture. 



152 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

A fine quality of magnetic ore, dense, metallic and 
very pure, is found on the east side of Haw river and 
about two miles distant, at the foot of Tyrrell's moun- 
tain on the farm of Mr. Snipes. The vein has not been 
fully exposed, but is reported to be three or four feet. 

A very fine micaceous hematite is found near the 
mouth of Collins' creek a few miles above, in Orange 
county. It has not been explored, but surface fragments 
are reported to be abundant. 

But the most notable ore bank yet opened in this 
county is that at Chapel Hill. It is a very dense, steel- 
gray hematite (specular in part), with slight magnetic 
indications. The vein is found on a hill one mile north 
from Chapel Hill, and more than two hundred feet 
above the creek at its base. The vein proper is seven 
to ten feet at the main shaft, and suddenly enlarging 
near the summit of the hill, just beyond the second 
shaft, to twenty-five and thirty feet. The hill top is 
covered with angular fragments of the ore of all sizes, 
up to more than one hundred pounds weight. 

There is a second vein of the same character, five or 
six feet thick, crossing the main vein near the first shaft. 
The ore becomes poorer as the vein is followed beyond 
the summit of the hill northward, until at the distance 
of one hundred and fifty yards beyond the upper shaft, 
the quartzite predominates and the ore becomes poor. 
This mine is at the terminus of the State University 
Railroad, and has all the transportation facilities that 
are desirable. 



IRON ORES. 153 

There are surface indications on the neighboring hills, 
both north and south, for several miles, which show that 
this vein has a considerable extension; and in fact it may 
be considered as a continuation of the hematite veins of 
Deep river. And a magnetic ore makes its appearauce 
about twenty miles northeastward, three miles beyond 
the upper forks of the Neuse river in the southeast cor- 
ner of Orange county, on Knapp of Reeds creek, on the 
farm of Mr. Joseph Woods. The ore- bed outcrops at 
one point for a few rods, where it appears to be about 
three feet thick, and has a strike N. 40° E., and dips at 
an angle of 70° to the northwest. 

At Mt. Tirzah, in the southeast corner of Person, 
near the Orange line, there is a vein of hematite (specu- 
lar), from which iron was made to some extent during 
the war. The vein is described as about six feet thick. 
The specimen sent to the Museum indicates a very fine 
ore, resembling that at Buck horn. 

The ores of Montgomery and Randolph belong pro- 
perly (geologically) to the Chatham range; they are 
found in the same great slate belt (Huronian) that con- 
stitutes the most notable feature of the middle region of 
the State, both geologically and mineralogically. The 
best known of these ores is found -near Franklinsville, 
Randolph county. And another vein has been opened 
near Ashboro, both of specular hematite. Some of the 
strongest and most highly prized iron obtained during 
the war came from this locality. It was all devoted to 
the manufacture of shafts and other machinery for the 



154 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

steam rams (iron-clads) and the like. Dr. Emmons de- 
scribes an occurrence of hematite of apparently consid- 
erable extent seven miles southwest of Troy, in Mont- 
gomery county; he says it is free from sulphur and a 
very pure ore. Another occurrence of ore — magnetite — 
is noted by him four miles north of Troy. 

Iron Ores of Guilford County. — One of the most re- 
markable and persistent ranges of iron ore in the State 
crosses the county of Guilford in a northeast and south- 
west direction, passing about ten miles northwest of 
Greensboro, near Friendship. It extends from the head 
waters of Abbott's creek, in Davidson county, entirely 
across Guilford to Haw river, in Rockingham, a distance 
of some thirty miles, making its appearance on nearly 
every plantation, and indeed almost every hillside in the 
range. The ore is granular magnetite, and is every- 
where titaniferous. There is a second, but much more 
interrupted, range of ore parallel to the one just de- 
scribed and lying a few miles to the northwest. 

The length of the outcrop, air-line measure, is twenty- 
eight miles. 

There is another ore belt running parallel with the for- 
mer and at a distance of three miles from it. This is called 
the Highfield or Shaw outcrop. Beyond Haw river the 
two belts approach each other, and are believed to unite 
in Rockingham county. The ore-bed is full six feet 
across, solid ore — a very green, chloritic, mica slate, rock 
ore. In a run of eight hundred yards, there are appar- 
ently tivo hundred thousand tons above water level, in the 



IRON ORES. 155 

one six-foot bed. The out-crop runs along the top of a 
hill about one hundred feet above the bottom of Haw 
river valley. 

Dr. Lesley mentions beds of ochre of various sizes, 
"as one of the constituent elements of the whole form- 
ation. The largest exhibition of ochre which I saw, is 
on the L. Somers plantation on Brushy creek. Here an 
ochre bed twenty feet thick rises, nearly vertical, out of 
a gully in a hillside covered with small pieces of fine, 
compact ore. The whole aspect of this place gives an 
impression of an abundance of ore beneath the surface, 
but no openings on the beds which have furnished these 
fragments have been made." 

This Guilford range of ores has not been traced to its 
termination in either direction, and doubtless other val- 
uable beds will be discovered; and there are already 
indications that there are outcrops of the same kind of 
ore as far northeast as Caswell county. 

There are also other iron ore localities in Rockingham, 
which do not belong to this range; for example, near 
the Virginia line in a northeast direction from Madison; 
and again two miles below the mouth of Smith's river 
(Morehead's Factory), there is a bed of red hematite iron 
ore, about ten inches thick at the outcrop. 

Iron Ores of Mecklenburg and Cabarrus. — No iron 
mines of any extent have been worked in these coun- 
ties, but ore has been found in a number of localities. 
Some explorations have been made in the southern part 
of Mecklenburg at the same time, in the Sugar Creek 



156 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

neighborhood. Numerous blocks of a remarkably pure 
granular magnetic ore were found scattered over several 
acres of surface of an old field, and along the public road ; 
and several trenches were cut, which exposed two or 
three veins of one to three and four feet in thickness. 
Some twelve or fifteen miles north of Charlotte, in the 
Hopewell neighborhood, a very notable quantity of sur- 
face fragments of large size are found in an old field and 
skirt of woods adjacent. This is a specular ore in a 
gangue of quartzite, not unlike the Chapel Hill ore. 

Iron Ores of Gaston, Lincoln and Catawba. — In these 
counties is one of the most, extensive ore ranges in the 
State. The ores are predominantly magnetic, with a 
variable percentage of hematite. The direction of this 
range of ore-beds is coincident with the strike of the 
slates, and is about N. N. E. from King's mountain on 
the southern border of the State, to Anderson mountain, 
near the Catawba river, in Catawba county. To Mr. G. 
B. Hanna, who has lately made an examination of 
many of the beds for the Survey, I am indebted for sev- 
eral valuable observations. He states that for a consid- 
erable part of the range there are two parallel beds, the 
more westerly being generally the larger and more pro- 
ductive, their thickness running from four feet (and 
sometimes as low as two feet) to twelve; the interval of 
twelve to twenty feet between them being occupied by 
talcose and chloritic slates, with a little ore in- layers. 
The ore has been generally mined in a very rude and 
wasteful fashion, the operations seldom penetrating be- 



IRON ORES. 157 

yond water-level, fifty or sixty feet, and generally lim- 
ited to surface openings. The range naturally divides 
itself into two groups of beds, the northern and south- 
ern, the one lying mostly in Lincoln and the other in 
Gaston. The most considerable of the Lincoln beds and 
the one which has beeu longest and most extensively 
wrought is known as the Big Ore Bank. This is sit- 
uated seven or eight miles north of the Carolina Cen- 
tral railroad, and, as is usual with the outcrops of these 
beds, is on a hill or broad ridge. There are several beds 
evident, but the scattered and partially filled openings 
do not furnish the means of arriving at a satisfactory 
notion of their exact relations. The quantity of ore, 
however, seems to be very great, the thickness of the 
beds at some places being estimated at about eighteen 
fVet. Several furnaces and a number of forges have 
been supplied with ore from this point for a long period. 
Following the compass course of the out-crops, about N. 
20° E., a succession of ore-beds is encountered at inter- 
vals of one or two miles, to the southeastern base of 
Anderson mountain — the Brevard ore bank, the Rob- 
inson ore bank, the Morrison ore bank, which last ex- 
tends into Catawba county. The thickness of the beds 
is given by Mr. Hanna in the general statement quoted 
above, as ranging from four to twelve feet. The quality 
of iron manufactured from this range of ore beds has 
always been good; and all the furnaces on this part of 
the range were put in blast after the war, for the pur- 
pose of supplying a high grade charcoal iron for the 
northern market. 



158 HAJSTD-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Limestone for fluxing is found convenient in the range 
of beds which accompanies these slates, one to two miles 
to the west from King's mountain to a point several miles 
beyond Anderson mountain. 

A few miles northwest of the last named mountain is 
a bed of limonite five or six feet thick. 

Several miles further, in a northwesterly course, seven 
miles southwest of Newton, there is a series of ore de- 
posits known as the Forney Ore Bank, whose minera logi- 
cal character and geological relations are entirely different 
from those of the ore beds of Lincoln county. The ore 
is a remarkably pure magnetite, heavy, black, metallic 
and non-granular, for the most part. The iron manu- 
factured from it in the forges of the neighborhood, par- 
ticularly at Williams's, was in much request before and 
during the war, being very malleable, tough and strong. 
All the blooms which could be procured at the naval 
works in Charlotte during the war were used for the 
manufacture of shafts for iron-clads and bolts for the 
cannon of the coast forts. 

At a point six or seven miles northeasterly from this, 
is the JBarringer Ore Bank, which is some two miles 
southeast from Newton. This ore is of the same charac- 
ter and geological relationships as the last. The ore is 
of the best quality, and the distance from railroad is only 
about two miles. 

There is also another deposit in Lincoln county which 
does not belong to the series of beds above described. Jt 
lies about two miles east of Lincolntou on the plank road, 



[RON ORES. 159 

and is traceable some hundreds of yards through the 
forests by the surface fragments, which are widely scat- 
tered. The ore is limonite. 

The lower part of the great iron range under consid- 
eration is mostly found in the southern half of Gaston, 
as the upper was mainly limited to the northern part of 
Lincoln. These ore beds appear to constitute a double 
parallel range, the divisions much more widely separated 
than in Lincoln. The Yellow Ridge Ore Bank, on the 
most southerly outcrop, at the western base of King's 
mountain, seems to belong to the eastern division. The 
bed here, which has been extensively wrought, and was 
penetrated to a depth of one hundred and twenty feet, 
is reported by Mr. Hanna and others to be sixteen feet 
thick (occasionally forty), with a steep westerly dip. 
Hanna says of the ore: "It is notably magnetic, but 
more highly peroxidized than that class of 'gray ores' 
generally." At the western base of Crowder's moun- 
tain, in a northeasterly course, on this range, is the Fnl- 
en wider ore bed. 

There are other beds or veins of iron ore on the east 
side of Crowder's mountain, one of which is about a 
mile distant, but no openings have been made here. 

There are three notable ore beds on the western divis- 
ion of this part of the range, on the lands known as the 
" High Shoals." They are the Ferguson, the Ellison and 
the Costner ore banks. The first is the most southerly. 
It is a granular magnetic ore, with much iron pyrites, 
which has been superficially changed to limonite. This 



160 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

bed has been long worked, but the sulphur has always 
lowered, more or less, the quality of the iron made from 
it. The Ellison ore bank is about a mile northeasterly 
on the range. This has been worked for a great while, 
and has furnished an immense amount of ore. Its quality 
is very high. 

The Costner Ore Bank is about three miles in a north- 
erly course, on the same line, and one mile east of the 
furnace (" Long Creek "). The rock is granitic and sye- 
nitie, and one wall is a bed of crystalline limestone, 
twelve feet thick. The ore is a very dense, metallic and 
sub-crystalline magnetite, and is very free from impuri- 
ties, and the bar iron made from it is very tough and 
strong. The vein is ten to twelve feet thick, and it is 
reported by the miners who last penetrated it, at a depth 
of over one hundred feet, to be above twenty feet thick. 

There are two other important ore beds on this tract, 
"High Shoals/' but they do not belong to the regular 
range of ore beds which we have been considering, being 
out of their line to the west, and of a very different 
character. The ore nearest to the line of the deposits 
last described is the Mountain Ore Bank. The vein is 
four to eight feet thick, associated with a heavy quartz 
vein, in a quartzo-argillaceous slate, and has a strike N. 
35° E., and which does not vary more than 1° to 5° 
from the vertical (towards the west). It is remarkably 
pure, and will no doubt become valuable in the manu- 
facture of spiegeleisen. The second vein, the Ormond 
Ore Bank, is in the slate belt also, and is probably a 



IRON ORES. 161 

vein. The vein is reported to be eight to fifteen feet 
thick. This ore is manganiferous like the last, and is a 
hematite, which is partly bydrated and limonitic, (ttir- 
gite?). 

There are five furnaces on this range of ores. 

Iron Ores of Yadkin, Surry and Stokes. — The ores of 
this region occupy a relation to the Pilot and Sauratown 
mountains, similar to that of the Gaston and Lincoln 
ores to the King's mountain range. They are found 
along the base and among the spurs and foothills of the 
range. And like them too, these deposits divide them- 
selves into two groups, geographically, one in Stokes and 
the other in Surry and Yadkin. They are all magnetic 
and granular. 

Another ore bed and two forges (Hyatt's), are found 
on the west side of Ararat river, near the mouth of Bull 
Run creek. A third ore bed, which has been worked 
for many years, known as Williams's, is four miles 
northwest of Rockford. The iron made from the ores 
of Surry has a good reputation in the region ; they are 
apparently very pure. On the south side of the river, 
there is a series of ore beds running from the river in a 
southwesterly course to Deep creek, nearly across the 
county of Yadkin. 

This range of ore beds extends southward across the 
South Fork of Yadkin river into Davie county, where 
the ore still preserves the same characteristics as in the 
above mentioned counties. One, the Rogers ore bank, 
is eight feet thick, and has been worked on a considera- 



162 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

ble scale; and an excellent iron was smelted in the fur- 
nace at Danburv during the war. Another bed reported 
to be ten feet I hick has been opened about half a mile 
east of the last, and two beds (one of them four feet 
thick, the other not opened), have been discovered at 
different times within three hundred and six hundred 
yards of it, on the west. The ores are all magnetites, 
with sometimes a small admixture of hematite. 

The purity of these ores is conspicuous. Phospho- 
rus is wholly wanting. Some samples contain a small 
percentage of pyrites. Manganese appears as only a 
trace in the analyses, but it must exist in larger propor- 
tions in some parts of the bed, as spiegeleisen is occa- 
sionally an accidental product. There are other outcrops 
of magnetic ore in the county, a notable one on the south 
side of the Sauratown mountains, among the head waters 
of Town Fork of Dan river. 

Iron Ores of Burke, Caldwell, &e. — There are many 
valuable beds of limonite in a range extending in a 
northeast direction from the northeastern foothills of 
the South mountains into the Brushy mountains, from 
Jacob's Fork of Catawba river, near the eastern border 
of Burke, across the Catawba, and by way of Gunpow- 
der creek, to the waters of Middle Little river near the 
eastern border of Caldwell; and beyond, near Rocky 
creek, in Alexander, and even on the northern slopes of 
the Brushy mountains in Wilkes, the same ores occur, 
being undistinguishable in appearance, and of identical 
lithological relations. 



IRON ORES. 163 

There is a bed near the town of Hickory, reported to 
be five or six feet thick ; and three miles west at Propst's 
are a number of pits from which a quantity of ore was 
obtained during the war; and at the distance of six 
miles, on the lands of Mrs. Townsend, a bed was opened 
some thirty years ago, and the ore, in considerable quan- 
tities, smelted in the Shu ford furnace in the neighbor- 
hood. 

Iron was also made on Gunpowder creek, Caldwell 
county, thirty or forty years ago, from a similar series 
of limonite beds. The quantity of ore is reported as 
large. The beds on Middle Little river, twelve miles 
southeast of Lenoir, were worked nearly fifty years ago, 
and the ore nauled seven miles to Beard's furnace, on 
the Catawba river. The outcrops are traceable on the 
slopes of Mclntyre's mountain and Bald mountain, near 
Mr. White's, on Miry branch, for a distance of two to 
three miles, the outcrop on the former being about three 
or four feet, and on the latter eight or ten; and it is re- 
ported that at some points the thickness is more than 
double the above figures. There is every surface evi- 
dence of abundance of »»re. Being a mountainous re- 
gion, timber for fuel is abundant, and water-power also. 

A bed of superior magnetic ore occurs on Warrior 
creek, not far from Patterson, Caldwell county, and 
within a mile of the bend of the Yadkin river. It is 
traceable hundreds of yards by large surface fragments 
of a fine grained, heavy, metallic ore, remarkably free 
from rocky admixtures; and a similar ore is reported as 



164 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

occurring' in large mass a few miles west on Mulberry 
creek. Another very fine ore, a shining metallic, slaty 
hematite, of great purity, is found a few miles above on 
the spurs of the Blue Ridge, flanking the Yadkin river, 
in a cove known as Rich lands. 

In the same neighborhood, on the farm of Mr. J. 
Curtis, on the banks of the Yadkin river, seven or 
eight miles above Patterson, is a heavy ledge of titan if- 
erous iron ore. The exposure is not less than twelve to 
fifteen feet thick, and the surface is covered with heaps 
of angular fragments of all sizes, up to a hundred pounds 
or more. 

Some ten or twelve miles northeast of this point, on 
the flanks of the Blue Ridge, near Cook's Gap, in the 
edge of Watauga county, occurs another outcrop of the 
specular (martite) schist of Richlands. The bed at this 
locality, which is called Bull Ruffin, is reported to be 
three or four feet thick at the outcrop. 

In McDowell county there are several beds of limon- 
ite. These are mostly aggregated along the top of Lin- 
ville mountain, southern part, and the western slope, 
near the foot, and in the spurs of the southern end. 
These Linville limonites made an inferior iron when 
worked alone, but mixed with the magnetite and hema- 
tites of the region, they would become available for the 
manufacture of good metal. 

The limestone beds of the same belt, in North Cove 
and along the flanks of Linville, are conveniently loca- 
ted for furnishing a flux, and the forests of these moun- 
tains will furnish indefinite quantities of fuel. 



IRON ORES. 165 

Ore mountain, one mile west of Swannanoa Gap (and 
therefore just over the Buncombe line), is named from 
the occurrence on its flanks of a bed of limonite, which 
doubtless belongs to the iron ore rauge of Linville. The 
bed is not well exposed, but three or four feet of thick- 
ness are visible on the steep escarpment, and large 
masses which have broken off are fallen down to a lower 
point on the slope. 

Iron Ores of Mitchell and Ashe. — In Mitchell county 
is found one of the most remarkable iron ore deposits in 
North America. It lies on the western slope of the 
Iron mountain (a part of the Great Smoky range), in 
the northwest corner of the county, three miles from the 
Tennessee line, and about a mile from the rapid torrent 
of Elk river, the principal affluent of the Watauga. 
It has been long known as the Cranberry ore bank, 
from Cranberry creek, which flows at the foot of the 
steep mountain spurs, on which it outcrops. 

The ore is a pure magnetite, massive and generally 
coarse granular, and exhibits strong polarity. The 
length of the outcrop is about fifteen hundred feet, and 
the breadth two to eight hundred. 

The softness and toughness of this iron is very re- 
markable, and its tensile strength, as tested by the 
United States Ordnance Department, ranks with that 
of the best irons known. The blooms from the Cran- 
berry forges have been extensively used in Baltimore 
for boiler iron, and commanded fifteen dollars a ton 
above the market. In quality it is unsurpassed by any 



166 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

iron in the world. And in regard to quantity, the bed 
much exceeds the great deposits of Missouri and Mich- 
igan, and at least equals anything in the Champlain 
region. So that it has not probably an equal in this 
country. 

There are other magnetic ore beds in the neighbor- 
hood of less extent. One is said to occur along the faoe 
of the same (Iron) mountain between one and two miles 
eastward ; and several others at the distance of six to 
ten miles in a southeast direction. Northwestward also, 
beyond the State line and within a few miles of it, is a 
number of ore beds, mostly magnetic — one limonitc; 
indeed it is evident that there is an extensive range of 
iron ores in this region which are of the highest quality, 
and must one day attract a large capital for their devel- 
opment. Deposits of ore are also found in other parts 
of the county ; but like the last named, they are known 
only by their out-crops. One of these is a bed of mag- 
netite, on the lower slope of Little Yellow mountain, at 
Flat Rock. The ore is quite like the Cranberry, of 
equal purity apparently, and strongly polaric. Some 
large blocks are found on the surface, weighing several 
hundred pounds. 

A bed of limonite occurs three or four miles north- 
west of Flat Rock, recognizable by a profusion of sur- 
face fragments, but no explorations have been made. 
On Rock creek, beyond Bakers ville, at the foot of the 
great Roan mountain, are also several beds of magnetic 
ore, of which hand specimens resemble the Cranberry 



IRON ORES. 167 

ore, and the geological associations are also the same. 
Of the size of the beds I have no definite information. 

In Ashe county, in the northwest corner of the State, 
there are some important ore deposits, on the waters of 
North Fork or New river. They lie chiefly north and 
northeast of Jefferson, on Horse creek and Helton 
creek. 

On Helton, six or eight miles east of the last, are still 
larger deposits of very pure magnetic ore, which has 
been long used in the forges of the neighborhood. The 
ore is a coarse grained and very pure magnetite, one of 
the beds of which is reported to be eighteen feet in thick- 
ness and another nine feet. This is manifestly an iron 
region, and worthy of a thorough investigation. 

Iron Ores of the French Broad. — There are several 
localities on the western slopes of the Black mountain, 
on the head waters of Ivy, in the eastern edge of Mad- 
ison,, where magnetite is found in considerable surface 
masses, though no explorations have been made. A bed 
also of titaniferous iron occurs here near the public 
road, and about midway between Asheville and Burns- 
ville. 

On Bear creek below Marshall, near the French 
Broad, there are surface fragments of magnetite in horn- 
blende slate, but no vein or bed has been exposed. On 
the eastern Fork of Big Laurel there is a large outcrop 
of a slaty granular magnetite at Mrs. Norton's, and near 
Jewel Hill a bed or vein of specular hematite in a red- 
dish felspathic gneiss, the ore said to be abundant. 



168 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA: 

About five miles west of Asheville a bed of limonite of 
several feet thickness has been opened. 

In Haywood county, there is a larger massive out- 
crop of granular magnetite; it is in the northeastern 
part of the county, on Wilkins's creek. The bed is no 
doubt large from the boldness of the outcrop, which 
projects in large masses above the surface. 

There are also magnetites and hematites in various 
localities of Jackson and Macon counties, some of which 
are represented in the Museum by very fine specimens, 
and the deposits are reported to be extensive, but as no 
iron has been made in those counties, there has been no 
occasion for their development, 

Iron Ores of Cherokee. — There is no other county in 
the State which contains so much iron ore as Cherokee. 
It is all, however, of one species — limonite. The mar- 
ble beds of Valley river and Notteley river are every- 
where accompanied by beds of this ore. The breadth 
of this iron and marble range is two to more than three 
miles. 

About one mile north of Murphy the quartzite forms 
a high ridge, having two beds of limonite, one on either 
flank, that on the northwest very fine and twenty-five 
five feet thick. 

At one-half mile below Murphy there seem to be 
four limonite beds with a small outcrop of the quartzite, 
the marble occupying the middle term of the section. 

These beds of ore are traceable northwards to within 
two miles of the Valley River beds, near Mrs. Hayes's. 



COAL. - 169 

The quantity of ore in this county is therefore immense, 
and is very widely distributed, and the forests of the 
mountain slopes furnish unlimited supplies of fuel, while 
the marble is at hand everywhere for fluxing. 

Spathic ore (siderite) is found in many of the mines 
of Cabarrus, Rowan and Davidson, and in some of them 
in large quantities. At the Cosby mine, in Cabarrus, 
an immense heap of it has been thrown out in mining 
for copper, and it is contaminated by the presence of 
copper pyrites. — Condensed from Kerr's Geology of 
North Carolina. 



Coal. 



The coalfields of North Carolina are referred by Dr. 
Emmons and Prof. Kerr to the triassic system. 

There are, says the latter, in this State two narrow 
fringes of an eroded and obliterated anticlinal, which 
belong to this system; the smaller, or Dan river belt, 
from two to four miles wide, following the trough-like 
valley of that stream (about N. 65° E.), for more than 
thirty miles, to the Virginia line; the other, the Deep 
river belt, extending, in a similar trough, five to fifteen 
miles wide (and depressed 100 to 200 feet below the 
general level of the country), from the southern bound- 
ary of the State, in Anson county, in a N. E. direction 

8 



170 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

to the middle of Granville county, within fifteen miles 
of the Virginia line. 

The most important and conspicuous member of the 
series is a large body of black shales, which encloses 
seams of bituminous coal, two to six feet. This coal 
lies near the base of the system in both belts, and is 
underlaid on Dan river by shales, and on Deep river by 
sandstones and conglomerates; the latter constituting the- 
lowest member of the series, and being in places very 
coarse. 

The black shales near the base of the system contain 
beds of fire clay and black band iron ore, interstratified 
with the coal. 

Emmons reports, in the Deep river coalfield, five 
seams of coal, separated by black slates, shales, black 
band iron ore and fire clay; and, in general, he finds a 
remarkable similarity to the coal deposits of the carbon- 
iferous formation. 

The coal with its shales outcrops along the northern 
margin of the belt at various points, for more than 
fifteen miles, and many shafts having been sunk to and 
through the main seam, which is the upper one, it is 
ascertained to be very persistent in all its characteristics 
and associated beds. 

The area of this coalfield is given by Emmons as 
about 300 square miles. The quality of the coal is also 
discussed by him and by Admiral Wilkes, and various 
analyses are published ; the three following by the latter, 
of samples from different parts of the field : 



COAL. 171 

Carbon 60.7 59.25 84,56 

Volatile matter 32.7 30.50 7.42 

Ash 5.3 10.21 7.80 

Sulphur 1.3 

100.0 99.99 99.87 
Specific gravity 1.28 1.41 1.49 

The first analysis (by Schseffer) represents the coal at 
the Egypt shaft, the second, by Prof. Johnson, the out- 
crop at Farmville, and the third, by the same, the 
Wilcox seam. Wilkes says, in his report to the United 
States government: "The three upper seams of the 
bituminous coal are well adapted for fuel, cooking, gas 
and oil. It is a shining and clear coal, resembling the 
best specimens of Cumberland. It ignites easily and 
burns with a bright, clear combustion, and leaves a very 
little purplish gray ash. It swells and agglutinates, 
making a hollow fire." " It yields a shining and very 
porous coke, and is an excellent coal for making gas or 
for burning," " The dry or debituminized coal" exists 
in " but small quantities in the basin," and " contains 
less than one quarter of the volatile matter that the 
bituminous coal contains." 

In regard to the value of the Chatham coal for gas 
making, the reports of the superintendents of the gas 
works of Norfolk and Portsmouth are highly favorable, 
" both as to the quality of the gas produced and the 
quantity which a given amount of coal yielded." 

It is worth while to mention here also the bituminous 
shales, which show themselves in so strong force above 



172 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

the coal in the Egypt section. Dr. Emmons estimated 
the thickness of the oil-bearing strata at seventy feet, 
and pronounced them capable of yielding thirty per 
cent, of their weight in kerosene oil. So that here is an 
inexhaustible resource for fuel, over and above that 
furnished by the coal seams. 

The following extract is from the report of Dr. H. 
M. Chance on the exploration of the Deep river coal- 
field, made by order of the Board of Agriculture during 
the years 1884- 7 85: 

"This formation is divided into an upper and lower 
series by the addition of a middle member composed of 
dark slates and gray sandstones carrying beds of coal, 
black- band, fire-clay, layers and balls of carbonate of 
iron, impure limestone, and beds of highly bituminous 
or carbonaceous slate and shale." 

WORKABLE AREA. 

"The most promising area is that extending from 
Farmville on the east to the Tysor (adjoining the Gulf) 
place on the west. 

"The length of the outcrop included between these 
limits is between four and five miles. Under the most 
favorable conditions we are not warranted in assuming 
the thickness of workable coal at more than five feet — 
three feet for the upper and two feet for the lower bed. 
If the dip of the coal continues as found at Egypt (423 
feet in 1,500 feet) over the whole area, the coal could 
probably be worked to a vertical depth of, say 1,100 



COAL. 173 

feet, which places the limit along a line parallel to the 
outcrop and about three-quarters of a mile distant from 
it. Assuming the length of the outcrop at four and a 
half miles, the area is then 2,160 acres. If 2,500 tons 
per acre could be mined from the lower bed and 4,000 
tons from the upper bed, we have for the available 
tonnage: 

Upper, or "Big" bed 8,640,000 tons. 

Lower, or "Little" bed 5,400,000 " 

Total 14,040,000 tons. 

" This is the most favorable showing that can be made, 
and is doubtless far in excess of the actual workable con- 
tents of this area, for no allowances have been made for 
those areas ruined by trapdykes, and for areas in which 
the coal is thin or even absent, nor for areas over which 
the coal is faulted or is too impure to ship. I believe 
that these irregularities will reduce the area by at least 
one-half, or say 1,100 acres. It will also be safer to 
estimate the yield of the lower bed at 2,000 tons and 
the upper bed at 3,500 tons per acre. The available 
tonnage so calculated would then be: 

Upper, or "Big" bed 3,850,000 tons. 

Lower, or " Little " bed 2,200,000 " 

Total 6,050,000 tons. 

"Even if this calculation is still too large, and we cut 
it down to one-half (3,000,000 tons), the amount is suf- 



174 HAND-BOOK OP NORTH CAROLINA. 

ficient to sustain a daily output of 500 tons for twenty 
years. If this coal cost the consumer only fifty cents 
per ton less than other coal, the resulting economy would 
amount to one and a half million dollars ($1,500,000) 
saved to manufacturers and other consumers throughout 
the State. In addition to this, probably a much larger 
amount would be saved by reason of the reduction in 
price of other coals, resulting from competition. In 
addition to these benefits, the profits made by the oper- 
ators, the railroads transporting it, and the employment 
afforded a large number of miners and laborers, should 
not be underestimated. 

"Again, three million tons of coal, at an average price 
of $3.50 per ton, cost over ten million dollars ($10,500,- 
000). If this amount of money can thus be kept in the 
State, instead of being paid out to the owners of mines 
in other States, the commercial value of this coalfield to 
the State can hardly be overestimated." 

On Dan river the coal first shows itself, says Prof. 
Kerr, on the surface about three miles east of German- 
ton, being imperfectly exposed in a ravine. The coal 
is about three feet thick. Some six to seven miles 
further east, at Stokesburg, there are outcrops of three 
seams in succession, the upper about three feet thick, 
with a heavy body of bituminous shales; the other two 
were not well enough exposed for measurement, but 
they were explored by a very intelligent gentleman 
who reports one of them as much thicker than the 
top seam. The black shales and slates crop out at 



GOLD. 175 

various points about the town of Madison, and 
near Leaksville a slope was driven some sixty feet 
on the coal seam which is here three feet thick, 
and with a dip of 34°, and considerable quantities were 
mined during the war. It is classed as a semi-bitumi- 
nous or dry coal. The outcrops show that the coal is 
continuous through the whole length of the belt in this 
State, which is about thirty miles. 

The report of Dr. Chance on the Dan river coal dif- 
fers widely from the above in respect to the extent, quan- 
tity and quality of the coal there. It is not likely that 
these points will be definitely settled until another 
exploration is made. 



Gold, 



The gold of North Carolina, says Dr. Emmons, be- 
longs to four different geological positions: 1. The loose 
quartz grit beneath the surface soil; 2. In stratified lay- 
ers, which are cotemporaneous with the rock; 3. In con- 
nection with seams and joints of the rocks, and proba- 
bly also diffused in the mass; 4. In regular veins asso- 
ciated with quartz, and the sulphurets of iron and cop- 
per. 

The principal counties in which it has been found in 
sufficient quantity for exploitation are, Dr. Genth says, 
Franklin, Nash, Granville, Alamance, Chatham, Moore, 



176 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Guilford, Davidson, Randolph, Montgomery, Stanly, 
Union, Cabarrus, Rowan, Mecklenburg, Lincoln, Gas- 
ton, Catawba, Caldwell, Burke, McDowell, Rutherford, 
Polk, Cleveland, Cherokee, Jackson, Transylvania and 
Watauga. 

It is generally more or less alloyed with silver, vary- 
ing from pure gold on the one side to pure silver on the 
other. Near the surface it is usually associated with 
limonite, and at a greater depth of the deposits with 
pyrite, chalcopyrite, galenite, zincblende, tetradymite, 
arsenopyrite, rarely with altaite and nagyagite. 



Copper. 



Dr. Genth, the eminent mineralogist, says in regard 
to copper ores : 

"Copper ores have been found in many localities 
throughout the State, in the veins of the old gneissoid 
rocks, as well as in the more recent slates, and even in 
the triassic formation. 

"The principal ore is chalcopyrite or copper pyrites; 
and there is every reason to believe that many of the 
mines require only a fuller development to enable them 
to furnish large quantities of valuable ores. 

" Many of the gold veins are associated with pyritic 
ores, and in fact almost all the North Carolina copper 
mines in the central counties have first been worked for 
gold, and there are hardly any mines in Guilford, Ca- 



COPPER. 177 

barms and Mecklenburg counties occurring in the gneis- 
soid and syenitic rocks which do not show strong indi- 
cations of copper ores. 

"The general character of these mines is that about at 
water level, the so-called brown gold ores are replaced 
by quartz richly charged with iron pyrites more or less 
mixed with copper pyrites, the latter increasing as the 
mine deepens, and in many places becoming the only or 
the predominating ore, and forming a regular copper 
vein. 

" The ores either became poor in gold or the latter 
could not be extracted by the ordinary process, then 
chiefly in use in North Carolina — Chilian mills and 
arrastras — therefore many valuable mines we^e aban- 
doned, mostly before a larger and paying quantity of 
copper ores had been reached. 

" The principal mines which promised to change into 
copper mines are in Guilford county, the Fisher Hill, 
the North Carolina, the McCulloch, Lindsay, Gardner 
Hill, Twin Mines, etc.; in Cabarrus county, the Ludo- 
wick, Boger, Hill, Phoenix, Orchard, Vanderburg, 
Pioneer Mills, etc., and in Mecklenburg, the McGinn, 
Hopewell, Pudisill, Cathay Mines, etc. 

" The cupreous minerals observed in the mines are, 
near the surface, small quantities of native copper and 
cuprite, the latter sometimes in beautiful needles, the 
so-called chalcotrichite, malachite, rarely azurite, chryso- 
colla and pseudo-malachite, and in some of the mines 
chalcocite and barnhardtite; all resulting from the decom- 



178 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

position of chalcopyrite or copper pyrites, which forms 
the principal ore. Siderite or carbonate of iron often 
forms an important gangue rock." 

There are, says Emmons, several veins of copper ore 
in the northeast part of Person county. At the Gill is 
mine the metal which the vein carries is known as the 
vitreous copper ore, which yields, when properly dressed, 
about sixty per cent, of copper. Two shafts have been 
sunk upon the vein ; in the south shaft it is eighteen 
inches, in the north about five feet. The vein carries in 
addition to the vitreous copper, silicate of copper, green 
carbonate, red and black oxides of copper, the latter 
rare. Dr. Emmons expressed the opinion that this 
part of -Person and the adjoining part of Granville 
would prove a mineral district of considerable impor- 
tance. 



Silver, Lead, Zine. 



From Dr. Genth^s Report : — 

" I shall consider these three metals under one head, 
as they are always associated. 

" Silver is a rare metal in North Carolina. With the 
exception of the silver alloyed with gold, varying from 
one or two to about twenty per cent., in the gold from 
veins and gravel deposits of the granitic and gneissoid 
rocks, very little silver has been found in the veins of 
these strata. 



OTHER USEFUL MINERALS. 179 

"The only real silver mines of North Carolina are ore 
beds of zincblende, mixed with galenite, in the argilla- 
ceous and talcose slates. The type of these is the old 
Washington mine, now Silver Hill, in Davidson county, 
which was discovered in 1838. Near the surface is 
formed a bed of carbouate of lead, having in many 
places films and plates of metallic silver disseminated 
throughout the mass of the ore. These ores were easily 
reduced, and produced handsome returns to the owners. 
This was, however, but of short duration. The undecom- 
posed ores, which were a very fine grained mixture of 
brown zincblende and argentiferous galenite, were soon 
reached, and presented great difficulties in the extraction 
of the precious metals." 

Recently, says Prof. Kerr, they have been discovered 
in several of the western counties. 



Other Useful Minerals. 



MICA. 

A great many mines of this mineral have been opened 
in the. last twelve years in some of the western counties 
of the State, in the archsean rocks. It is found in 
ledges (veins) of very coarse granite. Many of the 
plates of mica are of remarkable size, reaching three and 
even four feet in diameter. It is used chiefly in the 
manufacture of stoves, and the mining of it is a very 
profitable and rapidly growing industry. 



180 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Mica miuing has been carried on most extensively in 
Mitchell, Yancey, and Macon counties ; in Jackson, 
Haywood and Buncombe, &c, to a less extent. One 
mine in Mitchell yields a ton of marketable mica a 
month; and this region furnishes the bulk of this min- 
eral to the world's markets. The aggregate product of 
these mines has been over 250,000 pounds, worth about 
half a million dollars. 

CORUNDUM 

Has been found in large quantities in several counties 
west of the Blue Ridge, and is now extensively mined. 
Several valuable rubies and sapphires have been ob- 
tained, among them a crystal of 312 pounds, which is 
in the cabinet of Amherst College, Massachusetts. 

The principal use of this mineral is in the manufac- 
ture of the finer kinds of emery, for which purpose it 
has no equal. 

CHROMIC IRON. 

Small quantities of chrome are found associated with 
some of the iron ores of the State, the lead which crosses 
Guilford county for example. But it is also found as 
chromic iron, in coarsely crystalline masses, often of 
considerable size and in the form of very irregular veins, 
or pockets, in the chrysolite beds of Jackson, Yancey, 
Mitchell and Watauga counties. The most considera- 
ble deposits are two, one near Webster, and the other 
five miles from Burnsville, on Jack's creek, at Hamp- 
ton's. 



OTHER USEFUL MINERALS. 181 

MANGANESE. 

From Dr. Genth's Report: 

" Pyrolusite, psilomelane and wad are found in small 
quantities in many places in this State, but nowhere in 
abundance, so far as known. They are generally asso- 
ciated with iron, gold and silver ores. There is a very 
promising vein, or bed of psilomelane in Caldwell 
county, five miles west of Lenoir. It is found in irre- 
gular and rounded masses imbedded in light colored 
gneissic slates, some of the masses being ten, fifteen and 
twenty inches thick, and occupying a breadth of three 
or four feet of the strata. There is also a small seam in 
the town of Danbury, Stokes county, and laminated 
masses of one-half to one inch thick occur in the Buck- 
horn iron ore beds, and there are hand specimens in the 
Museum from Nash county and several other points. 

"Manganese is found associated with the iron ores in 
various parts of the State. At Buckhorn it is found as 
a silicate and probably in the form of knebelite. Beds 
of manganese garnet are of common occurrence and 
often of great thickness. There is a series of such beds 
associated with the King's mountain slates of Gaston, 
Lincoln and Catawba, which are superficially changed 
to black oxide. " 

Several veins of the black oxide, of considerable 
extent, says Prof. Kerr, in a recent report, have been 
found. 

KAOLIN, 

Says Prof. Kerr, "is found abundantly almost from one 
end of the State to the other, from Edgecombe and 



182 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Robeson to Macon; valuable for china and other wares, 
for paper making and for firebrick. A curious fact 
may be mentioned here which I came upon recently, 
that the first mineral export from North Carolina, if 
not from America, more than two hundred years ago, 
was kaolin, from the mica mines of Mitchell to Macon; 
for it happened that at that time all Europe was wild 
in the search for the earth out of which china ware was 
fabricated, the Asiatics and Asiatic traders having care- 
fully concealed their art from the outside barbarians of 
Europe. This mineral, therefore, bore a high value ; 
and there is none better found in Europe to-day than 
that which the Indians " packed " from the Smoky 
mountains to the coast, under the name Unakeh, their 
name for the Smokies (meaning white), still called, in 
places, Unaka in Mitchell, and Unakoi in Cherokee. 
These Indians were not miners, but this kaolin or white 
earth had been exposed like snow banks in huge dumps 
and open cuts by an ancient mining people, the Mound 
Builders, a thousand or two years ago, who obtained 
here the mica which is found so abundantly among the 
remains of those people, all over the Northwest to the 
great kikes." 

One of the largest beds of kaolin is found near Greens- 
boro, a few miles south. 

FIRE CLAY. 

The vast tertiary and quaternary tracts of the eastern 
section, says Prof. Kerr, abound in beds of potter's clay, 
fire clay, &c. 



OTHER USEFUL MINERALS. 183 

Dr. Emmons, in his report, refers particularly to one 
locality. He says: Clay for fire brick is abundant in 
Gaston county. It is free, I believe, entirely from lime 
and the alkalies, potash and soda. It extends through 
the county. It is inexhaustible in the vicinity of King's 
mountain, and appears at numerous places between the 
Ironworks and Dallas, as well as at numerous places in 
and about the latter place. 

AGALMATOLITE 

Is found in the southwest corner of .Chatham. This is 
a large deposit belonging to the Huronian series, which 
has a quite extensive range: occurring in Montgomery 
and parts of Chatham. It is popularly called soapstone, 
and has the soapy feel of that mineral, but contains only 
3.02 per cent, of magnesia. This substance has been an 
article of trade to New York, on a large scale and for 
many years. It is used in the manufacture of paper — 
wall paper especially — soaps, cosmetics, pencils, &c, and 
for various adulterations. 

WHETSTONE. 

Among the silicious argillytes so abundant in the 
Huronian strata, there are frequent beds of novaculite 
or whetstone. One of the best localities is a few miles 
west of Chapel Hill, from which these stones have been 
carried in all directions. Other quarries are found in 
Person county, near Roxboro, in Anson, not far from 
Wadesboro, in Montgomery and adjoining counties, on 
the great Huronian belt, and in fact almost every section 



184 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

of the State has its own quarries, which either do or 
might supply the local demand, at least in part, and as 
to articles of the commoner grades. 

MILLSTONE AND GRINDSTONE GRITS, &C. 

The sandstone of the State is, in many places, well 
adapted to the purposes of grindstones, and during the 
war, while the foreign supply was cut off, they were 
largely so used. The Anson county quarries furnish a 
very fine grindstone and whetstone grit. 

The conglomerates of the triassic series, which are 
associated with and replace the sandstones above men- 
tioned, have been long and widely used for millstones. 
They have been principally obtained from Moore county, 
on McLennan's creek, where they are obtained of excel- 
lent quality; and they have been distributed from this 
point over a large number of the intervening counties, 
to the Blue Ridge. Some of these stones have been in 
use for fifty years; and they are occasionally found to 
be nearly equal to the French buhr-stone. 

The coarse porphyroidal granites and gneisses which 
are scattered over so large a part of the State are, how- 
ever, the most common material for mill stones. And 
in the eastern section the shell rock is often partly or 
wholly silicified, forming a sort of buhr-stone, as in 
Georgia, and is well adapted to the same uses. In Madi- 
son county, in the Huronian slates in Laurel river, there 
is an irregularly laminated whitish quartz, occurring in 
large veins, which is used for millstones, which are re- 
ported to be a good substitute for buhr-stone. 



OTHER USEFUL MINERALS. 185 

GRAPHITE. 

This mineral is quite widely distributed in North 
Carolina, both in the Hnronian and Laurentian forma- 
tions. There are very fine hand specimens in the 
Museum from a number of counties, Person, Yancey, 
Catawba, Cleveland, Burke and others; and there are 
beds of a more or less impure, slaty and earthy variety, 
in several sections of the State, the principal of which 
are two: one in Gaston, Lincoln and Catawba, as a con- 
stant associate of the argillaceous and talcose slates and 
shales which belong to the King's mountain slates; and 
the other in Wake county. The former may be seen at 
various points crossing the public roads and cropping 
out in the gullies. At Sigmond's not far from Catawba 
station, in Catawba county, the bed was opened many 
year* ago, and several barrels mined; and within the last 
year or two a considerable amount of trenching and ex- 
ploration has been made, and several parallel beds are 
reported, three feet and more in thickness. In Cleve- 
land county there are several outcrops also, of a thin 
seam of a few inches; one of them is near McBrier's 
Spring. 

But the Wake county beds are the most extensive, as 
well as the best known graphite beds in the State. They 
extend in a northeast and southwest direction for a dis- 
tance of sixteen or eighteen miles, passing two and a 
half miles west of Raleigh. There are two beds appa- 
rently, forming a sharp anticlinal. The thickness is two 
to three, and occasionally four feet. The eastern (and 



186 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

longitudinally the most extensive) bed is nearly vertical, 
dipping sometimes east, but mostly west, at an angle of 
70° to 90° ; it was opened at a number of points many 
years ago, and is wrought to considerable extent at pres- 
ent. It is a bed of quartzitic and talco-argillaceous 
slates, which are more or less graphitic — from about 
twenty or thirty to sixty per cent. 

A large bed of a similar character is reported from 
Alleghany county, and a sample sent, which shows 12.38 
per cent, of graphite. 

Many of the Archaean gneisses of the middle and 
western regions of the State contain graphite, along with 
or replacing the mica. 

LIMESTONE. 

From Mitchell's Geology: 

Limestone has been discovered at three points in the 
primitive rocks in Stokes county; at one on the bank of 
the Yadkin, three miles below Rockford, in Surry, and 
at several places in the southeastern part of Buncombe 
and Henderson. Small nodules and masses also have 
been found about Lincolnton, encouraging a further 
search, in the hope that larger bodies may be discovered. 
The limestone of King's mountain is in a small tract 
of later primitive, bearing an intimate resemblance to 
the country around Charlotte, and like that rich in veins 
of gold. 

We have at some points a simple accumulation of 
shells, forming a good limestone sufficiently pure for all 
the common purposes of building, and of which it 




OTHER USEFUL MINERALS. 187 

might he expected that it would supply a large extent 
of country with quicklime. Such is that nine miles 
below Waynesboro, in the northwest corner of Jones, in 
the northern part of Onslow, at Wilmington, and on 
the northwest branch of the Cape Fear to the distance 
of forty miles above. 

Small nodules of compact limestone, and masses of 
loose texture are found in the upper part of Wake, in 
Anson, and elsewhere. 

Says Prof. Kerr : 

This mineral is not as abundant in North Carolina as 
in many States, constituting, as has been seen, but an 
insignificant proportion of the mass of its rocky strata. 
And yet its distribution is such, and such are its rela- 
tions to existing and abundant means of transportation, 
that it is accessible to the greater portion of the State. 
That part of the eastern region south of the Neuse river 
is abundantly supplied with Eocene or shell limestone, 
and to the northern half of that section both this source 
of supply is open, and the oyster shell heaps of the 
sounds and bays round to Norfolk, 

The middle region of the State lies under the disad- 
vantage of being dependent on railroad transportation 
for this most important agricultural necessity, and its 
source of supply is chiefly the same as for the east, 
together with the two narrow limestone belts, the one 
extending from Gaston to Stokes (the outcrops being 
intermitted between the Catawba and Yadkin), and the 
other lying wholly in McDowell county, so far as it 



188 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

appears this side of the Blue Ridge, and along the up- 
per valley of the French Broad, beyond that range. 

MARBLE. 

As elsewhere stated, there are several ranges of beds 
of crystalline limestone in the middle and western* 
regions. The first belonging to the King's mountain 
belt, contains so far as yet known, very little marble that 
may be considered available for the purposes of orna- 
mental architecture, or regarded as better than other 
common building stones. In the extreme west, how- 
ever, in Macon and Cherokee, the limestone range, both 
on Nantehaleh and Valley rivers, contains beds of very 
fine marble of various colors, white, pink (or flesh col- 
ored), black, gray, drab and mottled. It is capable of 
a very fine polish, and will one day (when the difficul- 
ties of transportation shall be overcome) acquire a. high 
value in architecture, as well as in other ornamental arts. 
In this last connection some of the serpentine beds may 
be mentioned as likely to come into use, and so to ac- 
quire a market value. 

TALC. 

From Dr. Genth's Report : 

Foliated talc, of a white or greenish white color, is 
found in many of the chrysolite beds, west of the Blue 
Ridge, at Shooting Creek, Clay county, Franklin, Ma- 
con county, Webster, Jackson county, Hampton, Min- 
ing Creek, Yancey county, Bakersville, Mitchell county, 
and other localities; in sheets of three-quarters to one 



OTHER USEFUL MINERALS. 189 

inch in thickness and of a somewhat columnar structure, 
near Pilot mountain, Surry county; fibrous talc, with 
silky lustre, and of a white or green color, also compact, 
crystalline white talc, with a splintery structure on Val- 
ley river, Cherokee county, and also in Macon county. 
Talc slate and coarse soapstone are found in many local- 
ities throughout the State. 

SERPENTINE. 

Dr. Olmsted, in his report, in speaking of the mag- 
nesian minerals of Wake county, says: " Serpentine, 
though npt strictly marble, is sometimes sawn into slabs 
and polished and sold under the name of green marble. 
It is by no means an uncommon mineral, but is not 
often found so beautiful as at the foregoing locality.' 7 
The locality referred to is a little north of the black 
lead formation, and within twelve miles of Raleigh. 

Dr. Genth says that "the massive are found in many 
localities. The best appears to come from the neighbor- 
hood of Patterson, Caldwell county. It has a dark 
greenish black color and contains fine veins of the yel- 
lowish green fibrous and silky chrysolite, and admits of 
a fine polish ; greenish gray massive serpentine, also 
with seams of greenish and grayish white chrysolite, is 
found in the Baker mine, in Caldwell county, at which 
place is also found the variety picrolite. Dark green ser- 
pentine, has been observed in the neighborhood of Ashe- 
ville, in Forsyth and Wake counties. A grayish or 
yellowish green serpentine occurs in the chrysolite beds of 



190 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Macon, Jackson, Yancey, Mitchell and other counties. 
It results from the decomposition of the chrysolite. 

BARYTE. 

In Prof. Olmsted's report is found the following 
notice of the vein found in Orange county: "On the 
farm of Mr. Latta, three miles south of Hillsboro, is a 
fine vein of a mineral called sulphate of barytes, or 
heavy spar. This substance is not very uncommon, but 
it is rare to meet with it of such purity and elegance as 
at this place. It is beautifully white and shining. It 
enters, as an ingredient, into the finest kinds of porce- 
lain ware; it is used in certain chemical preparations, 
and is employed by the painter in forming certain water 
colors. 

The following general notice is from Dr. Genth's re- 
port : "Baryte is found in small white tabular crystals, 
with pyromorphite and manganese ores at the McMakin 
mine, Cabarrus county. The laminated and coarsely 
granular white variety at the Cosby mine, and Orchard 
vein, in Cabarrus county; a vein of the coarsely lamin- 
ated, grayish, white baryte, at the Latta mine, near 
Hillsboro, Orange county. It occurs coarsely granular, 
and has the appearance of white marble, at Col. Walk- 
up's, Union county. A vein of very white compact 
and granular baryte, of from seven to eight feet in 
width, has been found at Cmwder's mountain ; west of 
the Blue Ridge, a vein eight feet in width, of the white 
granular variety, exists at Chandler's, nine miles below 



OTHER USEFUL MINERALS. 191 

Marshall, in Madison county, where it is white and 
grayish white, and of a. granular structure, with small 
patches of laminated baryte, and again on Elkin Creek, 
Wilkes county." 

MARLS. 

Marl is very abundant in twenty-five counties in 
North Carolina, very widely distributed, and of several 
kinds, the principal of which are four, viz.: Green-sand, 
Eocene, Miocene and Triassic. The former has gener- 
ally but a small percentage of carbonate of lime, 5 to 
30; the second usually 40 to 95; the third, 20 to 60; 
and the fourth generally less than 50. The last is of 
little consequence as a fertilizer, because of the very 
limited extent of its outcrops, and it is scarcely used 
where abundant. These marls are more extensively 
exposed than elsewhere in the northwestern part of 
Wake county and in the edge of Orange, between Mor- 
risville and Durham. There are frequent outcrops of a 
bed of marl and impure limestone, two to four feet 
thick, over a territory of fifteen or twenty square miles, 
the nearly horizontal strata coming to the surface in 
ravines and gullies, and exposed in ditches, wells, &c. 
Near Brassfield turnout, on Mr. W. RochelPs place, is 
an exposure of nearly four feet of alternate thin beds ot 
compact, light gray and red arenaceous limestone, with 
strata of uncompacted brick-red, marly clay between. 
The upper indurated strata contain more than 90 per 
cent, of carbonate of lime, and the lower about 60 per 
cent., and both require to be burned before they are 
available for agricultural uses. 



102 HAND-BOOK OF NOKTH CAROLINA. 

Green-sand Marl — occurs throughout the southeast- 
ern region of the State between the Neuse river and the 
Cape Fear. It comes to the surface, as stated, along the 
banks of the Cape Fear and Livingston's creek, on 
Black river, and South river, on the Neuse river and 
its tributaries about and below Kinston, along the Con- 
tentnea, and Moccasin, and at a few points even as far 
north as the Tar river. 

Eocene Marl. — The marls, of the next formation, 
which are always found overlying the preceding, when 
the two occur together, are either a calcareous sand, pass- 
ing in places into a friable sandstone, coarse or fine, or a 
fine calcareous clay, or a conglomerate shell limestone, 
more or less compacted and occasionally semicrystalline. 
They are composed of comminuted shells, corals and 
other marine exuviae. A number of samples of these 
marls, representative of the Cape Fear region, have 
been analyzed and found to possess a chemical constitu- 
tion not different from ordinary limestones, the percent- 
age of carbonate of lime ranging from about 90 to 95. 

Miocene Marl. — These are commonly known as shell 
marls or blue marls. They are found in limited patches 
or " beds," and are scattered over a much wider territory 
than either of the preceding, and being nearer the sur- 
face, and so, more accessible, have been much more ex- 
tensively used, and are consequently much better known. 
They are found throughout a large part of the eastern 
region, from South Carolina to Virginia; in fact, they 
occur in all the counties of eastern North Carolina, ex- 



OTHER USEFUL MINERALS. 193 

cept those lying between, and north of the great sounds, 
and two or three small outcrops have been observed in 
Chowan, and in the northern part of Currituck. The 
western boundary of these beds is very nearly repre- 
sented by a line parallel to and three or four miles west 
of the Wilmington and Weldon railroad, from Halifax 
to Goldsboro. Southward, the inland boundary is found 
to be generally but little west of a line connecting the 
latter point and Lumberton, that is, a line parallel to 
the coast and about sixty-five miles distant from it. 

The area included within the above limits is about 
one-fourth of the State — a much larger territory than 
the whole State of Massachusetts, or New Jersey. These 
marls are valuable not only for the lime they contain, 
they have also various other valuable ingredients. 

The question is often asked whether there are any 
minerals in the eastern section of the State; the answer 
is, the mineral wealth of that section, in the form of 
marl, is worth ten fold more than that of all the rest of 
the State beside, great and various as that is. If the 
money spent in gold getting alone, which is not less tbau 
twelve or fifteen millions since 1820, had been spent in 
marl getting, the State would be worth more than double 
its present aggregate valuation. For at the rate already 
given, that sum would have marled three millions of 
acres — more than the total surface now in cultivation; 
that is it would have produced a result at least equal to 
the adequate marling (at the rate of ten tons to the 
acre) of every acre now in cultivation, leaving out of 
9 



194 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

the calculation the interest, that is, the results of the 
increased production during several decades of years. 

PEAT AND MUCK. 

Peat and muck abound in the eastern portion of this 
State, and are so widely distributed that a large propor- 
tion of the farms, and almost every neighborhood have 
their own local supply within easy reach. But the inex- 
haustible source of this material for the region, is the 
great swamps which extend through the whole of the 
seaboard region, from the extreme southern border to 
the Great Dismal, which extends across the Virginia 
border. A considerable part of these areas designated 
as "The Swamp Lands/' is simply covered by a peaty 
accumulation — a series of true peat bogs, of which the 
peat is from two or three, up to ten, fifteen and even twenty 
feet thick. Of such peat beds there are hundreds of 
square miles, which must one day become an important 
resource for fuel as well as manure. 

ASBESTOS. 

This is, says Prof. Kerr, one of the commonest asso- 
ciates also of the chrysolite beds heretofore mentioned, 
and it occurs also quite widely in the Laurentian rocks 
of the middle and western parts of the State. One of 
the best known localities in the State is that near Bakers- 
ville, in Mitchell county ; in fact it occurs in two or 
three places in that vicinity. It is long, fibrous, white 
and readily reduced to a pulp, or mass of fine lint. An 
equally fine article is brought from the southern part of 



OTHER USEFUL MINERALS. 195 

Jackson county. It is also found near Tryon moun- 
tain, in Polk county. Another well known local- 
ity is in Caldwell county, near the Baker mine. This 
is associated, like many others, with a serpentine rock. 
Specimens have been exhibited also from Ashe and from 
Yancey. This mineral occurs in many places from War- 
ren to Jackson county. 

SOAPSTONE. 

This is a very common mineral in North Carolina, 
both in the form of the impure, greenish, massive, or 
slaty rock (potstone), used for grave stones, and for 
chimney and furnace hearths and linings, and in the 
form of a pure massive white steatite. The most exten- 
sive beds of this mineral are found in Cherokee and 
Macon, in immediate association with the marble range 
and accompanying it throughout its whole extent, on 
Nantehaleh river, Valley river and Notteley. An an- 
alysis of this rock, as it occurs at Jarre tf s, on Nante- 
haleh, gave 23.71 per cent, of magnesia, which is about 
the percentage for pyrallolite. The variety rensselaerite 
is found in Forsyth county, and probably also in the 
South mountains in Burke county. 

PYRITE. 

Pyrite is one of the most common minerals of North 
Carolina. It is not only found in globular crystalline 
masses in many of the marl beds of the eastern counties, 
but many of the gneissoid rocks and slates contain it in 
considerable quantities, and besides it is found in almost 



196 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

every mine of the State. In the gold mines the associ- 
ated pyrite is generally auriferous. Cubical crystals 
occur at Hickory, Catawba county, Asbury mine, Gas- 
ton county, Soapstone quarry, twelve miles northeast of 
Statesville, Silver Hill, Gold Hill and many other locali- 
ties. Combinations of cubes and octahedra are found 
at Clegg's mine, Chatham county, and in the Guilford 
county gold and copper mines; the pyritohedron, often 
in combination with cubical and octahedral planes, is 
found at the Stewart mine, in Union county, Cambridge 
mine, Guilford county, Long Creek mine, Gaston county, 
Rudisill mine, Mecklenburg county, &c. Large veins 
of compact pyrite occur in Gaston county. 



Building Stones. 



There exists the greatest abundance of material for 
architectural and engineering uses, over a large part of 
the State. Granite and gneiss are among the commonest 
rocks throughout its whole length, except in the coast- 
ward region, where it is overlaid by the Tertiary and 
Cretaceous beds. And the sand stones of the Triassic, 
red and gray, as well as those of the Huronian, are 
available over considerable areas; while the shell lime- 
stones of the Eocene furnish a very fair building mate- 
rial to the sandy and alluvial coast region; and the 
crystalline limestones and marbles of the west supply an 



PRECIOUS STONES. 197 

ornamental building stone of great variety and beauty. 
A particular notice of the marbles of the State, which are 
of every variety of tint, will be found elsewhere. 

Seventy-nine specimens of building stones have been 
sent from the State to the New National Museum at 
Washington. These embrace granite of every variety 
(the beautiful Sotch granite included), gneiss, soapstone, 
talc, limestone, marble, firestone, limerock, sandstone of 
various shades and texture, syenite and porphyry. 



Precious Stones. 



DIAMOND. 

This rare gem has been repeatedly found in North 
Carolina, and the following occurrences have been well 
established. In every instance it was found associ- 
ated with gold and zircons, sometimes with monazite 
and other rare minerals in gravel- beds, resulting from 
gneissoid rocks, but it has never been observed in the 
North Carolina itacolumite, or any debris resulting from 
its disintegration. The first diamond was found in 1843 
by Dr. M. F. Stephenson, of Gainesville, Georgia, at the 
ford of Brindletown creek. It was an octahedron, 
valued at about one hundred dollars. Another from 
the same neighborhood came into possession of Prof. 
Featherstonehaugh, while acting as United States Ge- 
ologist. 



198 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

The third diamond, at Twitty's Mine, Rutherford 
county, was observed in 1846, by General Clingman, in 
D. J. Twitty's collection, and has been described by 
Prof. Shepard. Its form is a distorted hexoctahedron, 
and its color yellowish. 

The fourth came from near Cottage Home, in Lincoln 
county, where it was discovered in the spring of 1852, 
and was recognized by Dr. C. L. Hunter. It is green- 
ish and in form similar to the last, but more elongated. 

A very beautiful diamond was found in the summer 
of 1852 in Todd's branch, Mecklenburg county. It 
was nearly of the first water and a perfect crystal. It 
was in possession of the late Dr. Andrews, of Charlotte. 
Dr. Andrews informed me, says Dr. Genth, that a very 
beautiful diamond of considerable size, like a small chinc- 
apin, and of black color, had been found at the same 
locality, by three persons, while washing for gold. In 
their ignorance, believing that it could not be broken, 
they smashed it to pieces. Dr. Andrews tested the hard- 
ness of a fragment, which scratched corundum with 
facility, proving it to be a diamond. A very beautiful 
octahedral diamond of first water was found many years 
ago at the Portis Mine, Franklin county. There is a 
report that a second one has been found in the same 
locality. 

BERYL. 

Occurs in six-sided prisms, sometimes doubly termi- 
nated, from about half an inch in thickness, and from one 
to six inches in length. Their color is yellowish and bluish 



PRECIOUS STONES. 199 

green — small pieces of the latter color are sometimes trans- 
parent, and might be cut for gems (aquamarine); asso- 
ciated with orthoclase, muscovite, tourmaline, &c, at 
Ray's Mine, on Hurricane mountain, Yancey county; 
one imperfect yellowish green crystal, of about one and 
a half inches in* length, has been found at Buchanan's 
mica mine, three and a half miles east of Bakersville, 
in Mitchell county; one bluish green crystal, implanted 
in quartz, has been found at Captain Mills' gold mine, 
in Burke county. 

ZIRCON. 

Abounds in the gold sands of Burke, McDowell, Ruther- 
ford, Caldwell, Mecklenburg, and other counties, in very 
minute yellowish brown and brownish white, sometimes 
amethystine, pink and blue crystals with many planes; 
large grayish brown crystals of zircons are found so 
abundant on the south side of the Blue Ridge, near 
Green river, that General Clingman easily obtained, in a 
few weeks, 1869, one thousand pounds of crystals. It 
is rarely found associated with chrysoberyl, at Ray's 
mine, Hurricane mountain, Yancey county. 

GARNET. 

Is widely distributed throughout the State and a constant 
constituent of many of the mica and hornblende slates, 
in which it occurs in minute dodecahedral and trapezo- 
hedral crystals of a brownish or brownish red color; it 
also occurs in many of the talcose and chloritic slates; 
larger trapezohedral crystals of a brownish red color are 



200 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

frequently met with in the mica mines of Mitchell and 
Yancey counties; imperfect dodecahedral crystals at 
Weaver's, Janestown, Rutherford county, and in talcose 
slate in Rockingham and Cherokee counties. The most 
beautiful and perfect crystals are large trapezohedra, of 
a brownish red color, from Burke, Caldwell and Catawba 
counties. Some of these are transparent, and, when cut 
show a peculiar play of colors. Large crystals and 
crystalline masses of a reddish brown garnet, are found 
near Franklin, Macon county, and on Toe river, Mitch- 
ell county. Pyrope, of good color, has been observed in 
the sands from gold washings in Burke and McDowell 
counties. The massive manganese garnet is abundant at 
Janestown, Rutherford county, at Buckhorn, Chatham 
county, near Moore's Mills, Stokes county, near Gold 
Hill, in Cabarrus county, near Brevard's Forge, one and 
a half miles from the Vesuvius furnace, and near Mac- 
pelah church, Lincoln county, near High Shoals, Gaston 
county, and near Madison, Rockingham county. 

agate. 

Rough specimens of this form of quartz are very com- 
mon, for example, in Cabarrus, near Harrisburg and 
Concord, and in Mecklenburg; and occasionally a hand- 
some gem has been found among them. But a year or 
two ago some very fine specimens of moss agate were 
discovered near Hillsboro. It is found in Granville 
county also, and elsewhere. 



PRECIOUS STONES. 201 

OPAL. 

A number of gems of this species have been found in 
the State. Within the last twelve months a large num- 
ber have been picked up in Concord, Cabarrus county, 
some of them of much beauty and high market value. 

HIDDENITE. 

From a late publication of Professor Kerr: 

Hiddenite is an emerald-green gem, quite as handsome 
and as highly valued as the emerald proper, or the dia- 
mond. It is found in no other spot on the earth's sur- 
face save one, in the eastern edge of Alexander county. 
The mineral species to which this variety belongs is 
spodumene, which, as ordinarily found, has as little 
claim to be considered a gem as a common crystal of 
felspar. 

A considerable amount of work has been done in 
mining for the gem by Mr. Hidden. The crystals are 
found, not in veins, but in nests or pockets, of which 
perhaps a dozen have been found within a depth of 
thirty-five feet. There pockets contain, besides hidden- 
ite, emerald, quartz, rutile and other crystals. The value 
of some of these other minerals has exceeded that of hid- 
denite. Emeralds have been found worth $1,000 each. 

Mr. Hidden writes: "The mine has never supplied 
twenty-five per cent, of the amount ordered by the trade; 
only lately I made a $1,300 sale of three emeralds and 
hiddenites to a gem collector. We continue to find em- 
eralds, beryls and hiddenite; also many interesting asso- 



202 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

ciated minerals. The hiclclenite is the least common among 
them." " This is the only strictly American gem," and it 
may be added, it is strictly a North Carolina gem. He re- 
ports that "it is already recognized as a gem of the highest 
rank." 

A company has been organized with a capital of 
$200,000, with a view to larger and more systematic 
operations, and thirty hands are employed. A shaft has 
been sunk thirty-six feet, and a tunnel cut two hundred 
and sixty feet, mostly through rock. The largest emer- 
ald found is eight and a half inches long and weighs 
nine ounces. 

This inaugurates in the State an industry entirely new 
to this country. There have been a few sporadic efforts 
heretofore, at several different places and times, at min- 
ing for sapphires and rubies, and a number of very 
respectable gems have been picked up, but nothing like 
a regular business of this sort has been yet established 
anywhere in this country. Hiddenite may be set down 
as the thirteenth species of gem found in North Caro- 
lina. 

EMERALD, 

A beryl, is found mostly in the mica mines of Mitchell 
and Yancey; an 8-inch section of one, two feet long and 
seven inches thick, is in the Museum, from a mine near 
Bakersville, and a block one foot long from another, 
which must have weighed hundreds of pounds. 

Aquamarine, beryl, also, of a different color. 



PEECIOUS STONES. 203 

EUBY. 

Ruby — Corundum, found as a gem in Clay and Ma- 
con, may also be found in other corundum localities in 
Jackson, Mitchell, Iredell, Gaston, &c. The largest 
crystal of ruby corundum in the world (twenty inches 
by seven) from Macon, was burned up the other day at 
Amherst, in Shepard's magnificent collection, together 
with a larger number of rare and fine North Carolina 
minerals than existed elsewhere. 

Ruby — Spinal, deep color, Jackson; found last year 
in some gravel sent by mail, rough, imperfect, hut sug- 
gestive. 

SAPPHIRE. 

Sapphire, corundum — Found as above; a number of 
very pretty gems have been picked up. 

Sapphire, kyanite — Best are found at Swannanoa Gap 
and top of Black mountain; the common sort in Mitch- 
ell, Gaston and other counties. 

Rock Crystal, false diamond, California diamond — 
Abundant in this State. 

In addition, it is worth while to mention that speci- 
mens of opalescent quartz, occur in Cabarrus and else- 
where; also malachite, carnelian, jasper, chalcedony, 
rutile, tourmaline, chrysolite, lazulite and smoky quartz ; 
so that our list of native gems is certain to be extended, 
and very considerably, too, whenever extensive mining 
operations are resumed. 

Of the entire list of real gems, nine have been found 
as such in this State; and of the minerals which consti- 



204 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

tute these gems, all but one occur here; so that it is not 
improbable that we may complete the list as soon as 
mining industries take root among us. 

And of minerals which furnish the semi-gems, a ma- 
jority also occur in this State. This fact is explained, 
just as the other broader fact, of the occurrence of so 
wide a range of mineral species. It is due to the prev- 
alence of the older rocks, which make up almost the whole 
of North Carolina, geographically, outside of the over- 
mantling sands and gravels of the east. 



Mineral Waters 



From Prof. Kerr's Report : 

Both Chalybeate and Sulphur waters are of common 
occurrence in the State and in all sections of it, the for- 
mer eminently so. Alum waters are also of frequent 
occurrence. In the eastern section, the abundance of 
peat and muck insures the prevalence of carbonated 
waters, which are continually dissolving the iron oxides 
from the ferruginous Quaternary earths, and in their 
issue in springs at the foot of the slopes and in the 
ravines, they come charged with this element, which is 
deposited in a flocculent ochreous precipitate, along the 
course of the streams. In the granitic and slaty regions 
of the middle and west, the presence of iron and alum 
is due to the decomposition of the iron pyrite, so widely 
diffused in the gneisses, granites and slates. 



MINING IN" NORTH CAROLINA. 205 

"Simple Chalybeate springs, where iron is dissolved 
by the agency of fixed air," says Dr. Olmsted in his 
report, "are common in almost every part of this 
region (the middle section). Such waters are well fitted 
to relieve the langour induced by a warm climate, and 
are, perhaps, more salubrious for frequent and constant 
use, than the stronger and more complicated mineral 
waters." 

There are numbers of mineral springs, in the middle 
and western parts of the State which are noted for the 
efficacy of their waters in various forms of disease; 
among these the Sulphur Springs of Catawba, Cleve- 
land and Haywood are of high repute. 

"In the lower part of Buncombe," (now Madison) 
says Dr. Mitchell, "are the Warm Springs, with a tem- 
perature of 104°. They rise on the bank and in the 
bed of the French Broad, give out considerable quanti- 
ties of nitrogen, but contain very little mineral matter 
of any kind." 



Mining in North Carolina in 1888 

The auriferous area of North Carolina in a general 
way embraces nearly one-half of the State; the produc- 
tive area is much less, containing a little more than 
twelve thousand (12,000) square miles. 



206 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Warren county on the northeast, Moore county on 
the southeast, and the Tennessee line, mark approxi- 
mately the east and west boundaries of the gold field ; it 
extends on the north into Virginia, and on the south 
into South Carolina, and comprises the best known and 
most productive part of the Appalachian gold belt. 

GEOLOGICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE MINES. 

The best known mines are on the central belt of 
granite (using the word in a general way), stretching 
across the State in a northeast and southwest direction 
with a width of ten (10) to twenty-five (25) miles; the 
towns of Greensboro and Charlotte are nearly on its 
axis; this area is commonly regarded by geologists as 
among the oldest on the American continent. This area 
is tentatively classed as 

LOWER LAURENTIAN. 

To the east is a large body of slates, generally argil- 
laceous, but frequently departing from that type, with a 
width varying from fifteen (1 5) to fifty (50) miles ; this re- 
gion also abounds in mines, but it has been less explored. 
The formation is Upper Laureutian and Huronian, the 
latter predominating. 

To the west is a still larger area, made up for the 
most part of gneissoid and schistose formations, and 
extending nearly or quite to the Tennessee border; this 
area, too, has a large number of gravel and vein mines. 
This part of North Carolina is commonly held to be 
Upper Lauren tian. 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 207 

Warren, Franklin and Nash Counties. 

The extreme northeast deposits occur in Warren, 
Franklin and Nash counties, and cover, so far as ex- 
plored, an area of about one hundred (300) square miles, 
being fifteen (15) miles long in its northeast and south- 
west axis, and five (5) to seven (7) miles wide. 

The Thomas mine one and one-half (1 J) miles north- 
east of Ransom's Bridge, is the extreme northeast point 
worked, so far as known to the compiler; the area to 
the southwest extends beyond Peach Tree creek, and 
nearly to Tar river. It is probable that the auriferous 
area is considerably more extended than these limits 
would indicate, but the productive area is practically 
confined in these boundaries. 

The formation is described by Emmons as Taconic, 
and by Kerr as Upper Laurentian, and consists of 
gneisses and mica schists for the most part; it is rich in 
ferruginous minerals, whose peroxidization and altera- 
tion have extended very far below the surface, making 
a deep red, tenacious clayey soil. The whole area bears 
evidence of great surface disturbance and rearrangement 
of the superficial material — possibly of several rear- 
rangements. The bed rock lies from fifteen (15) to 
twenty-five (25) feet deep, and is itself much peroxidized 
and altered. 

A conspicuous phenomenon is the great abundance of 
quartz seams from a line to one and one-half (1 J) inches 
thick. These commonly run with the bedding, but some- 
times across both the course and dip. They are generally 



208 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

called veins, and are mostly of sugary or granular quartz, 
often seamed and filled with oxide of iron, and always 
soft and easily crushed. Other seams are of glassy quartz, 
and frequently of even greater width, but are held to be 
unproductive. 

Gold appears originally to have been in these narrow 
seams of sugary quartz, which, in the usual process of 
weathering, have been broken down and into fragments 
widely distributed over and in the soil, and gradually 
concentrated on the bed-rock in favored sinks or chan- 
nels. It is by no means certain, however, that the gold 
was originally confined to these seams, for it is quite in 
accordance with the analogies of its occurrence elsewhere 
in the Carolinas and Georgia that the entire "country" 
matter of gneiss, etc., may also have the precious metal 
sparingly distributed within it, and from which it has 
also been concentrated. 

Occasional masses of the " country" show a curious 
alteration, during which apparently the basic matter has 
been removed, and only the quartz left in a very soft and 
crumbly condition — an example of a process of "silici- 
fication," which is very marked in some parts of the 
Appalachian gold belt, aud which has seemingly resulted 
in charging the entire mass with gold. I was unable to 
learn to what extent such material occurs in this belt, 
nor its value, but some examinations and assays would 
indicate it to be suitable material for exploitation. 

For fifty or sixty years the richer areas, and those 
which are most easily accessible, or which lie most con- 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 209 

veuient to the water, have been worked till exhausted or 
no longer profitable. Remunerative work of this char- 
acter will gradually cease. Operations on a more exten- 
sive scale, by true hydraulic methods, have also been 
attempted, and probably will, in the future, be carried 
out on still larger plans. 

A vast amount of gravel has been accumulated by such 
work, most of which is gold-bearing, and some of which 
might be milled with a small profit. 

Assays of such material indicate contents of $2.07 to 
$3.10 per ton. 

A detailed and exact study of this section has never, 
so far as I am aware, been attempted, and hence anything 
like a full representation of its resources is necessarily 
inadequate. 

THE PORTIS MINE 

has been the most exploited, and, from operations here, 
the entire district may be best understood. 

This mine lies in the northeast corner of Franklin 
county, and quite near to both Nash and Warren coun- 
ties. The mining tract contains 938 acres, and is equipped 
with a plant of hydraulic apparatus. The mill has re- 
cently been enlarged to 15 stamps, and a still further 
addition of 35 is contemplated. The mill is also pro- 
vided with an Alden crusher, and concentrators. 

The mine is situated on a hill 108 feet above Shocco 
creek, from which the water for work is derived. 

A large amount of preparatory work was performed 
in the latter part of 1885, and it is believed that the 



210 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

work of 1886 will be vigorously pushed, with a corres- 
ponding increase in the production. 

The hydraulic methods, now largely used in South 
Carolina, and still more largely in Georgia, point out 
the general line of solution of the mining problem here. 
A lift of water of 100 or even 200 feet, is now a mere 
trifle to the mining engineer, and in addition with a 
pressure which is equivalent to a head of 50 or 100 feet 
at the point at which the water is used. 

This column of water applied to a body of surface 
material rapidly "dissolves" the softer part of it, and 
washes it away, depositing its precious contents in the 
sluices; if these sluices be given a slope of even four 
(4) inches in twelve (12) feet, the current itself will read- 
ily bear away the quartz, partly pulverizing it, and de- 
livering it at some suitable point in the mill-house for 
stamping. The work is almost wholly automatic; the 
outlay for the plant is not excessive, and the expense of 
maintenance is small ; the cost of treatment per ton is 
surprisingly low. 

The application of this mode of treatment is entirely 
feasible, and, in the judgment of the writer, is the only 
one economically applicable. 

The remarks on the Portis apply to the others for the 
most part, the best known of which are indicated in the 
following list : 

The Thomas mine, one and one-fourth (1J) miles 
northeast of the Portis, contains 450 acres. 

The Kearney is two and one-half (2J) miles north- 
west of the Portis. 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 211 

The Arringtou, two (2) miles southeast of the Portis, 
in Nash county, contains 2,000 acres. 

The Taylor is five (5) miles southwest of the Portis. 

The Mann, with 1,000 acres, is six (6) miles south- 
west. 

The aggregate of the regular employees is twenty-five 
(25) persons; possibly as many more give a part of their 
time, otherwise unoccupied, to crude mining work. 

The southeast extension of the Upper Laurentian is. 
overlaid by the Quaternary, a little to the south of 
Raleigh, and no gold mines are known beyond this 
point. 

THE HURONIAN. 

In Moore county, has two (2) belts, one ten (10) miles 
northwest of Carthage, and one-fourth (J) mile west of 
the Red Sandstone, and the other eight (8) miles further 
west, in the northwest part of the county, and probably 
connected with the most eastern of the Montgomery 
county belts. 

The Bell mine is the only mine worked in the for- 
mer; the immediate country is a silicious talcose schist, 
slightly mineralized; several narrow belts occur on this 
property, with finely disseminated iron pyrites, which is 
commonly auriferous, as shown by several assays, viz: 
$1.44 to $5.02 per ton; the latter figure is probably 
much above the average. 

The vein worked will probably be found to be one of 
these belts more highly charged with gold — in other 
words, a bedded vein ; its mass is a talco-chloritic schist 



212 HAND-BOOK OP NORTH CAROLINA. 

very silicious and much altered ; in many places the 
lalco-chloritic matter has become almost entirely silicious 
in seams, and in such cases is generally enriched. 

These seams, reddish to greenish in color, are usually 
quite persistent in the direction of the strike, but vary 
in width from one-eighth (£) to three (3) and four (4) 
inches; the width of the ore body varies from three (3) 
to six (6) feet, and averages fully four (4) feet. 

As an ore body the material is unique, and commonly 
does not give in its external appearance any indication 
of its value; it has almost no sulphurets. 

The rich quartz seams assay from thirty ($30) to 
thirteen hundred ($1,300) dollars per ton, while the entire 
vein matter will average from twelve ($12) to fifteen 
($15; dollars per ton. Assays of strict averages give 
$14.47 and $14.34 on the seventy-five (75) foot level. 

The vein has been sunk upon to the depth of one hun- 
dred and ten (110) feet, the last ten (10) being an incline 
in the vein itself. This body has been opened on at in- 
tervals for nearly 800 feet, and more or less work has 
been done on the surface along this distance, but the pro- 
ductive part, which has been worked in depth is about 
one hundred and thirty (130) feet long. 

The gold is unusually "leafy/' and often occurs as a 
very thin plating on the surface of the schists. 

Six (6) miles northeast of the Bell and one(l ) mile north 
of Deep river, and possibly in the same geological hori- 
zon is the 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 213 

CHICK MINE. 

The body of ore has been sunk 'upon to a slight depth, 
but without much judgment, and so slightly explored 
as to be practically unknown. 

The external indications of copper are especially 
marked, and the entire body is seamed and stained with the 
blue and green cupric carbonates, which give the surface 
material an appearance of richness much beyond the 
reality; s:> far as examined, this results from the altera- 
tion of the black sulphuret of copper (chalcocite). 

Many assays of the material run from $2.65 per ton' 
for gold and silver and a trace of copper, to $18.17 for 
gold and silver with 17-^- per cent, of copper. 

THE PHILLIPS TRACT, 

two and one-half (2J) miles northeast of the Chick, is 

quite similar, but has hardly been touched, and its real 
value is practically unknown ; twenty (20) feet is the 
greatest depth reached. 

The second belt alluded to in the northwest part of 
Moore county is extremely interesting mineralogically 
as well as economically. 

This group of mines, embracing nine (9) well-known 
localities, is comprised in a space two (2) miles wide 
from northwest to southeast, and six (6) miles long from 
northeast to southwest; these boundaries, however, are 
not the actual limits of the auriferous area, but only of 
the productive part. 

The formation is talco-chloritic schist, but everywhere 
very silicious, and traversed by lenticles of quartz, some- 



214 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

times conforming approximately to the bedding, but 
more frequently across it. The surface of the whole 
country, particularly to the eastward, is strewn with 
quartz, which probably came from the long weathering 
of the strata bearing these lenticles. The veins so-called 
are simply " bedded veins," and are the richest parts of 
the auriferous strata. In entering this area the 

BROWN MINE 

is met on the northwest edge, on the road from Moffitt's 
to Richardson's mills, and one and one-half (1 J) miles 
southwest of the latter. It was worked for three hun- 
dred (300) yards, and forty (40) to fifty (50) feet deep; 
the dip is very flat; the ore body is three (3) feet wide, 
but the "pay streak" was a narrow T seam of quartz; the 
surface bears witness to a considerable production. 

THE BAT ROOST 

is one and one-half (1J) miles northeast of the Brown. 

THE SHIELDS 

is two (2) miles south, and adjacent to the east edge of 
the belt. It has been occasionally operated for years, 
but its history is not well known. 

THE CAGLE MINE, 

one (1) mile south of the Shields, is also ou the east edge 
of the belt; the mining -tract embraces five hundred 
(500) acres, mostly on the east side of Cabin creek. 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 215 

This mine is entered by two (2) underlay shafts in the 
vein, the deeper being one hundred and sixty (160) feet 
on the incline. 

The ore body is a quartzose-talcose schist, with a small 
amount of disseminated iron pyrite, and a trace of cop- 
per pyrite ; the vein is estimated to be from two (2) to 
nine (9) feet thick. The assays made by the writer have 
run $5.33, $6.20, $27.19 and $39.88 per ton, the latter 
being exceptional, as the average ore is of a rather low 
grade; the ore body is large and the material abundant. 
The plant of machinery consists of 20 stamps. 

Unlike most of the mines of this belt, the work is 
wholly underground. 

THE CLEGG MINE. 

A tract of thirty (30) acres, one-fourth (J) miles west, 
on the opposite side of Cabin creek, is made up of the 
same kind of schists, but the ore body is larger, i. e., 
the entire formation is ore, but at the same time much 
lower in grade; above the level of the running water of 
the neighborhood it is much altered and peroxidized, 
and quite soft — too soft for perfect security in mining. 

It is worked by open cuts, and can readily be picked 
and shovelled out. The milling is done by a ten (10) 
stamp battery. 

THE MORRELL MINE 

is one-fourth (J) mile southwest on the east side of 
Cabin creek. 



216 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

THE BURNS AND ALRED MINE 

or Burns mine, as it is more commonly called, has 
seventy-five (75) acres, and is the best example of this 
class of deposits. 

The ore was milled for forty (40) years by the old- 
fashioned North Carolina methods, by Chilian and drag 
mills, and with unusual success; with so much success, 
indeed, as finally to tempt an ambitious promoter of 
mining schemes to introduce a new and untried kind of 
"process" machinery, which, as a matter of course, 
failed, and to the injury of the good name of the mine 
and of the neighborhood. 

Though this mining tract proper is of small area, a 
considerable body of mining territory is generally 
worked in connection therewith, the whole aggregating 
250 acres. Cabin creek, a bold and deep stream, courses 
around the west and northwest edges of this tract. 

It is difficult to say what is ore, and what is not, in 
this area, for it is everywhere auriferous, though not 
everywhere capable of being operated economically. 
The formation is a very silicious-talcose schist, some- 
what chloritic. 

The best known localities in this tract are Moody 
Hill, near the east boundary, and Brown Hill, toward 
the western. The former has been worked most exten- 
sively, and in both places the mining has been almost 
entirely by "open cut." The selection of places for 
exploitation has been almost exclusively determined by 
the results of mill runs of the ore, or by panning, and 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 217 

while this way of work has been wasteful in some 
respects, it was probably the best method available. 

The cuts are scattered about promiscuously, without 
much evident connection or relation, and are usually 
very irregular in outline. The cut most largely worked 
has, for its so called foot-wall, a very silicious schist 
alternating with chloritic schists, while the hanging- 
wall is more chloritic and less quartzose; the bedding 
dip northwest 40° to 50°. 

Here an ore body twelve (12) feet thick has been ex- 
ploited, assaying $5.17 per ton, but it is quite certain 
that the material will not average so much in the long 
run, though working averages of $3.00 may probably 
be depended on, and, at long intervals, schists of very 
high grade have been found and may be expected at any 
time. 

This belt extends one (J) or two (2) miles further 
south. 

Montgomery County. 

The western gold belt of Moore county probably- is 
connected with the southeast belt of Montgomery, but 
the relations of these belts have been so little studied 
that no certain statement to this effect can be made. 

The formation of this county, like that of the western 
part of Moore, is Huronian, but the silicious-talcose 
schists, with a few exceptions, change about the middle 
of the county into clay slates, thin-bedded and gray to 
greenish in color. 

10 



218 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

This county abounds in "gravel" and in vein mines, 
but the veins are of a bedded character. 

Three (3), and perhaps four (4), well-defiened belts 
of auriferous territory are known. These belts are from 
four (4) to eight (8) miles wide, and extend nearly or 
quite across the county from northeast to southwest. 

The most easterly belt embraces the Swift creek and 
the Sam Christian gravel mines, the Carter and Reynolds 
vein mines, the Wood gravel and the Moore vein mines. 
Of these, only the Sam Christian has gained more than 
local fame, and is the only one at present worked. 

The gold in this mine occurs in ancient "channels," 
in gravel of a thickness of one (1) to three (3) feet, and 
sometimes covered with soil to a depth of thirty (30) 
feet. It is rarely found in dust or grains, but generally 
in nuggets of five (5) pennyweights and upwards into 
the thousands. 

I cannot learn that any record of the. yield of this 
mine has ever been kept. 

This property of 1,286 acres has been worked in two 
(2) places, "Dry Hollow" and the old "Sam Christian 
cut," but other channels are known to exist. 

The method of work pursued in this mine consists in 
a simple removal of the soil resting on the gravel, fol- 
lowed by a careful washing of the gravel in sluices and 
rockers. When the soil is shallow, it is often removed 
by simple digging; otherwise it is washed away by a 
powerful hydraulic stream. The harvest periods are 
very intermittent and uncertain, since a long time is re- 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 219 

quired to remove the superficial matter in order to reach 
the gravel, and a few days or even hours will often suf- 
fice for obtaining a large reward for weeks or even months 
of unrewarded toil. 

The obvious method of treatment is the hydraulic, but, 
unfortunately, the locality is on an elevation of 190 feet 
— a matter which, of itself, is not a serious obstacle. 
There is, however, a very scanty supply of water in the 
gulches, which cut the hills, and the most careful hus- 
banding of the supply suffices only for a very moderate 
amount of work, and chiefly in the winter and spring. 
A survey has been made from this mine to the Yadkin 
river, three (3) miles distant, at Swift Island Ford. 
This supply would furnish an abundance of water. 

The second and parallel belt is four (4) to six (6) 
miles northwest, and comprises a line of "gravel" mines 
on the northwest of the Uwharrie mountains, and 
between it and the Uwharrie river. The localities 
within the knowledge of the compiler are the Bright, 
Ophir, or Davis, Spanish Oak Gap, Dry Hollow, Island 
Creek, Deep Flat, Pear Tree Hill, Tom's Creek, Har- 
bin's, Bunnell Mountain, Dutchman's Creek, and the 
Worth mines, the latter being near the junction of the 
Uwharrie river and the Yadkin. 

The Bright, Dry Hollow, the Worth, and the Bun- 
nell Mountain are the best known, but only the Bright 
and the Bunnell Mountain have been worked of late. 

I believe that these gravel mines do not extend 
further north than Barnes's creek, near the north line of 
the county. 



220 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

The supply of water is entirely inadequate for the 
working of these properties, and the tailing ground is 
not always favorable; moreover some mechanical diffi- 
culties, caused by the admixture of clay with the gravel, 
have prevented an extensive exploitation of them. 

It may be mentioned, in this connection, that at the 
Bright mine there is also a massive formation, several 
hundred feet wide, quite like that of the Russell. 

These localities are but a very short distance from the 
easternmost of the next northwest belt. 

The more prominent mines of this third belt are the 
Steele, the Saunders, Henderson, Coggins, Morris 
Mountain, Russell, or Peebles, Little Russell, McLean's 
Creek, and Beaver Dam. 

The first three named carry chiefly argentiferous or 
auriferous galena; the Coggins, Morris Mountain, and 
both the Russells are bedded ore masses; the last two 
of the list are gravel mines. 

This formation passes into Randolph county, and 
embraces a prominent group there. 

The Steele and Saunders are near the eastern edge of 
the belt, just to the east of the Uwharrie river. The 
former has been the most worked; the ores were largely 
free milling at the outset, but, at the depth now worked, 
have passed into galena and blende, with a small pro- 
portion of copper pyrite, all argentiferous and aurifer- 
ous; the vein (a bedded one) is seven (7) feet wide, 
with a " pay streak " of ore apparently three (3) feet 
thick. 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 221 

THE SAUNDERS 

is simply the northeast extension of the Steele, and they 
are separated only by the accident of ownership ; the entry 
shafts are barely one hundred and fifty (150) feet apart. 

Very little work has been done at these mines for 
some years, but they are likely to be vigorously worked 
this year. 

The Henderson, two (2) miles west of the above, at 
Eldorado post office, also a bedded vein, has been sunk 
upon only a. few feet, and not much is known of its 
value; the mineral matter is blende, galena, copper 
pyrites and iron pyrites. 

THE COGGINS MINE, 

one and one- half (1J) miles northwest of the Steele, 
is a recent discovery (1882), and has been sunk upon 
less than fifty (50) feet ; the work has not been suffi- 
ciently extended to give thoroughly satisfactory informa- 
tion of the ore bodies; so far as exploited, there appear 
to be two (2) bodies separated by a barren body of a 
few feet in thickness; in reality, the ore bodies are au- 
riferous slate, with a comparatively barren body of like 
character between. The schists course N. 40° E., and 
dip steeply to the N. W. ; the thickness of the worka- 
ble beds is variable, but will probably average together 
not less than twenty (20) feet, and it is by no means cer- 
tain that the explorers have found either the hanging or 
foot walls, using these terms freely. 

The body was originally chloritic-argillaceous schist, 
but is now largely altered and peroxidized. 



222 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

The ore, as a rule, assays very low, but the size of the 
bodies, the softness of the ore, and the cheapness of 
treatment, combine to make this property very promis- 
ing. Nothing beyond exploratory work has been done 
here yet, and the machinery used is of the crudest sort. 

THE MORRIS MOUNTAIN MINE, 

a tract of 350 acres, one (1) mile nearly west of the 
Coggins, is also known as the Davis or Dutton mine; 
some bodies of the slates here occasionally prospect well, 
and at rare intervals the slates are plentifully sprinkled 
with free gold, but I am not aware that any large work- 
able body has yet been discovered. 

THE BEAVER DAM MINE, 

at Flaggtown post office, three (3) miles southwest 
from Morris Mountain, and two (2) northeast of the 
junction of Beaver Dam creek and Yadkin river, con- 
tains a mining tract of 800 acres, one-half (J) of which 
is claimed to be underlaid by gravel. This gravel is 
from two (2) to four (4) feet thick, and overlaid by an 
alluvial deposit five (5) to fifteen (15) feet deep. 

Numerous seams of quartz everywhere course through 
the formation and are probably the largest source of the 
gold, but there is probably also a considerable amount 
due to the breaking down of the slates themselves. 

A massive body of chloritic schist exists, assaying 
moderately in gold, but, so far as I am aware, never 
worked. With these' exceptions nothing resembling 
vein matter has ever been found. 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 223 

The supply of water afforded by the Beaver Dam 
creek is ample for extended operations, and hydraulic 
work is the only feasible method here; mechanical diffi- 
culties only prevent successful exploitation. 

The "gravel" is mixed with a tenacious clay, which 
seriously hinders the recovery of the gold; if this me- 
chanical difficulty could be overcome, continuous and 
profitable work would probably result. 

THE RUSSELL OR PEEBLES MINE 

is near the north boundary line of the county. 

Here an enormous body of sulphuretted ore is avail- 
able ; the amount of iron pyrite is not large, and will 
probably not exceed three (3) per cent. 

The ore body is made up of silicious talcose schists 
alternating with silicious schists, the whole much altered. 
It is exclusively worked by "open cuts," and immense 
bodies of low grade ore are open to the day. 

The assays of the ore range from $2.07 per ton to 
$22.86, and, at very rare intervals and in extremely 
small quantity, into the thousands; as a whole the range 
of values is low. 

RIGGINS HILL AND THE LITTLE LEAD 

are open cuts in other ore bodies on the same property. 
The mine was re-equipped in 1885, and has had a 
successful run of three (3) months. Seventy-five (75) 
men are employed. 



224 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

THE UWHARRIE (FORMERLY GRAVES) MINE, 

two (2) miles south of Lassiter's mills in Randolph 
county, and quite near the Russell, has a similar forma- 
tion. 

Randolph County, 

like Montgomery county, abounds in mines. 

Only the following were worked in 1885: the Saw- 
yer, Jones, Winslow, Lafflin or Herring, Jones or Key- 
stone, Davis Mountain, Winningham, Slack, Graves 
and Hoover Hill ; only the last has been extensively 
worked, the former were only prospected. 

All these mines are in "slate," but the relation of 
these belts has not been carefully studied ; probably in 
their southwest extension they are continuous with the 
two (2) western belts of Montgomery county. 

Some of these are deserving of special mention. 

The Winningham and Slack are two and one-half 
(2 J) miles south of Ashboro, the Davis Mountain four 
(4) miles southwest of Ashboro ; the Sawyer five (5) miles 
northwest ; here the ore body is massive and consists of 
several parallel beds of silicions-talcose schist in an ad- 
vanced stage of disintegration, and sometimes forming 
a body of fine sand loosely coherent. These schists are 
auriferous, and the workable bodies are sufficiently near 
each other to be worked simultaneously. 

This property formerly had a good record. 

The Winslow is five (5) miles southwest of Ashboro; 
little work was done there, although it is equipped 
with ten (10) stamps. 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 225 

The Jones or Keystone, the Lafliin or Herring, and 
the Delft are quite similar in character, and a descrip- 
tion of the 

JONES 

will approximately indicate the character of the others. 

This mine, or rather tract of mining land, compris- 
ing 293 J acres, is twelve (12) miles southeast of Thomas- 
ville, and not far from the Davidson line. The entire 
country is a soft and rather silicious-talcose schist, with 
a chloritic tendency. The weathering, to a depth of 
forty (40) feet, and possibly more, has effected a peroxi- 
dization of the ferruginous constituents, so that .it has 
become a mass of reddish clay. At the same time dis- 
integration has proceeded so far that the mass can be 
readily picked to pieces. The more deeply colored earth 
is generally the richer, but gold is universally present 
over the whole country. The mining, however, is con- 
fined to certain well-known channels or belts, which are 
more richly charged. 

The presence of the gold is probably most largely due 
originally to the presence of iron pyrite, which, through 
peroxidization, has liberated the precious constituents; 
but it cannot be overlooked that, in the more valuable 
belts, fine sand (quartz) is more abundantly distributed, 
and in such a manner as to point to a natural association 
of the quartz and gold. 

Occasional " horses' 7 of strata are found charged with 
finely disseminated iron pyrite, and yet unaltered to any 
extent, and still solid and firm; these, whatever their 



226 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

contents, are commonly avoided, from the comparative 
difficulty both of mining and milling. 

The work is almost entirely open to the day. The sur- 
face is everywhere cut into gulches, which allow easy and 
cheap entry by open cut into the bodies of ore, and at 
the same time facilitate easy transportation by gravity 
cars to the mill. 

The disintegrated soil allows of mining at a marvel- 
ously cheap rate, frequently not exceeding fifteen (15) 
cents per ton delivered at the mill. 

The treatment so far made use of is that by stamp 
battery, and is apparently the best available. If the 
supply of water were ample, and with sufficient head, 
there might also be a hydraulic treatment of certain 
parts of the surface. 

The assays have run $2.07 per ton, $3.11, $3.61, 
$4.65, $6.20 and $28.92. The last is exceptionally rich, 
and the second is nearer the average. Bodies of high 
grade material are occasionally found, but they are very 
limited in extent. 

The primary condition of success with such low grade 
mine stuff is the handling of large quantities, and for 
this a very large amount of water is needed. 

The water supply is deficient, consisting chiefly of the 
natural flowage of one (1) small branch, and of accumu- 
lations in dams during the rainy season. 

The Uwharrie, a bold stream, is only two (2) miles 
distant, but at a lower level. No grave obstacles pre- 
vent the lifting and flowing hither of its waters. 

The mill is equipped with ten (10) stamps. 



M USING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 227 

THE HERRING OR LAFFLIN MINE 

has a Howland pulverizer. This mine is thought to 
have a better natural supply of water than the others. 

THE HOOVER HILL MINE, 

now operated by a London company under the name of 
the "New Hoover Hill Gold Mining Company, Lim- 
ited," comprises 250 acres. It is seventeen miles a little 
east of south from High Point. 

This mine has had a curious history. In the early 
days of mining the yield was large, and the profits some- 
thing fabulous. This prosperity continued while the ore 
lasted, which had been subjected to weathering, and was 
easily treated. Since that time, and during the treatment 
of the compact and unaltered ore, its history has been 
one of failures till the year 1884. It fiually came into 
the hands of a London company, which did little to re- 
deem its record for two (2) years. The company, dis- 
heartened, was on the point of going into liquidation, 
but concluded to make one more effort, which, under the 
present skillful superintendent, William Frecheville, 
proved entirely successful. 

The "country," which apparently is an altered schist, 
very hard and compact, is traversed by belts which abound 
in quartz seams, ranging from a line to a foot in thick- 
ness. While the seams show no traceable regularity in 
the respective belts, the belts themselves show a marked 
persistence. It was the outcrop and upper part of these 
seams which originally gave such large returns. It was 



228 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

the prediction of Mr. Frecheville that the shoots which 
were so rich above would also be productive below, and 
his forecast was correct. The splendid returns of the 
last two (2) years have fully justified all efforts to put the 
mine again on a working basis. 

There are several oif these belts; the principal one is 
the "old Briols Shoot/' which is entered by the Briols 
and the Gallimore shafts. This is the body most largely 
depended on. At no great distance from this shoot are 
six (6) other belts lying quite closely together, and worked 
from the Hawkins shaft, which has reached a depth of 
135 feet. This shaft will be sunk deeper iu 1886. 

" In the Hawkins part of the mine, the No. 1 and the 
No. 2 ore bodies have fluctuated considerably as to size 
and grade during the year, but, on the whole, have pro- 
duced well. They have recently been cut off by cross 
courses of green-stone. In the case of the No. 1 ore 
body, we have drifted through the green-stone and secured 
the ore body on the other side; and in the case of No. 2, 
we are sinking an incline from the bottom of the No. 2 
slope through the green-stone, and will recover the ore 
body on the other side." 

The old Briols shoot, which gave renown to the mine, 
is now clown 300 feet. The superintendent says: "We 
are drifting at 290 feet, but we are not far enough ad- 
vanced to allow us to judge of the character of the chute 
of ore at that depth. At the 230 feet level it is about 
80 feet long by from 18 inches to 10 feet wide, and worth 
$8 to $10 per ton. The Briols shaft is being sunk 
deeper." 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 229 

The mill was erected by Beckett & McDowell, and 
contains four (4) five-stamp batteries, with other appli- 
ances suitable to the work. 

"7,635 tons of ore were crushed in 1885, producing 
$68,400; * * * for the year ending September 30th, 
1885, a profit was made of £6,698.6.2, of which £6,000 
was distributed in dividends. Seventy to ninety men 
were employed." 

The occurrence of the gold is invariably associated 
with the quartz seams, though these sometimes occur 
without enriching the ore body; iron pyrite is generally 
present to the extent of three (3) per cent.; it is gener- 
ally found on the sides of the quartz seams, between 
them and the accompanying gangue. 

AT THE WILSON KLNDLEY MINE, 

one-half (J) mile southwest, no work was done; the for- 
mation is similar to that at Hoover Hill. 

Allusion was made to the Graves or Uwharrie mine, 
in immediate connection with the Russell, and under the 
head of Montgomery county. 

Stanly Count}. 

The most west of the Montgomery belts is supposed 
to continue into Stanly county, where, as might be sup- 
posed from the examples given, and of the wide distri- 
bution of gold, there are numerous localities which have 
earlier or later received attention at the hands of the 
miner; of these no one was worked uninterruptedly in 
1885, though a little desultory work was accomplished 



230 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

at Rock Hole and Hog creek in gravel raining, and at 
the Parker, Crowell and Barringer mines. 

Among the more noted mines are the Haithcock and 
the Hearne, two (2) miles northeast of Albemarle. 

Little is now known of these exactly, but the amount 
of underground work indicates satisfactory return ; like 
most mines of the section, they were apparently aban- 
doned when the water level was reached, and the char- 
acter of the ore changed. 

The Hearne, in its northeast extension, is the Haith- 
cock; the course of this vein is nearly northeast and 
southwest, and at its northeast end runs into and merges 
with the Lander, which has a course N. about 70° E. ; 
the Hearne and Haithcock are two (2) to four (4) feet 
wide; the Lander is six (6) feet. 

Both veins are evidently filled most largely with 
quartz, but the characteristics of these ore. bodies as a 
whole cannot now be ascertained; their old reputation is 
good. 

THE PARKER MINE 

is at Bilesville, ten (10) miles southeast from Gold Hill. 
This property of three or four acres has given enormous 
returns, and the amount of nuggets found is marvellous; 
a vast extent of work has been done to find the "vein," 
but I am not aware that anything like a vein has been 
discovered; it is probable that the surface is an intricate 
network of quartz seams; the whole surface strongly 
suggests the Portis mine, and like that locality invites a 
hydraulic treatment, for which, however, water is not 
convenient. 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 231 

THE CROWELL MINE 

is in the same neighborhood. The vein is bedded, 
and the ore body is four (4) to seven (7) feet thick ; fre- 
quently the whole body will pay to mill; the "pay 
seam " is much narrower, and often becomes only a line 
in thickness; the ore cannot readily be differentiated 
from the surrounding country, for the schists are the 
same, only auriferous to a working degree; they are tal- 
cose with a marked chloritic tendency, and in altering 
become quite silicious; they contain finely disseminated 
iron pyrite, which by peroxidation stains the entire body 
red and. brown. The greatest depth is one hundred and 
twelve (112) feet. 

Ore assays are : $8.00 per ton, $10.40, $23.76, and 
$169.77. 

The western strip of mining territory in Stanly county 
is adjacent to Gold Hill, and is comprised in the belt 
stretching from Davidson county to Union county. 

The mineral localities in this belt in Stanly county 
are not less than twenty (20) in number, but few of 
them have more than a local reputation. 

THE BARRINGER, 

four (4) miles southeast of Gold Hill, has been too 
little explored to allow of a correct classification; enor- 
mously rich pockets with ore in small amounts assaying 
from three hundred ($300) dollars and upwards have been 
found, but nothing is known of their number or extent ; 
in truth, the very extent of the "finds" has plunged 
the mine into litigation fatal to successful work. 



232 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Union County. 

It is not known that the central belt of Stanly county 
continues into Union, for the mines of this county, with 
two (2) or three (3) exceptions are readily traceable in 
alignment with Gold Hill, Silver Hill, Silver Valley, 
Conrad Hill and other mines of the Davidson county 
belt. 

This magnificent stretch of seventy-five (75) miles 
contains most of the noted and productive mines of the 
State; it is in the extreme west of the slate region, and 
in immediate proximity to the so-called "granite area/' 
which forms the backbone of the State. It embraces a 
great number of precious metal mines, where the gold 
and silver are associated with other valuable metals, e. 
g., copper, lead and zinc — associations, which are not so 
often met with outside of this belt. 

This belt commences at Conrad Hill, near the Three- 
Hat mountain, about the middle of the eastern bound- 
ary of Davidson county, and runs through it in a direc- 
tion nearly S. 40° W., to the southeast corner of Rowan 
and the adjacent corner of Stanly, through the eastern 
part of Cabarrus, and the western part of Union, nearly 
to the South Carolina line. 

The mines of Union county are nearly all comprised 
in this belt, and are near the western edge of the county, 
adjacent to Mecklenburg; all are in slate, but are not 
far remote from the granite. 

The whole extent from Cabarrus county to South 
Carolina is, with scarcely a break, crowded with mines, 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 233 

which, in the early days of mining, were the best known 
along the entire belt. * 

The ores found are readily classified into auriferous 
and argentiferous galena, auriferous iron pyrite and 
auriferous slates, but sulphurets are never absent from 
the latter. Copper ores are of incidental occurrence at 
several of the mines, but have not hitherto been found 
in quantity in this county. 

No mines are now worked on a notable scale, but sev- 
eral have been operated in a desultory manner, chiefly 
the Davis, Phiffer, Lewis, Hemby, Harkness, Howie, 
Washington and Crump. 

The Howie, the Wyatt, the Washington and the Pen- 
man together form the 

"grand union gold mines/ 7 
They comprise an area of 1,941 acres. 

THE WASHINGTON, 

eight (8) miles a little south of west from Monroe, is 
the most southerly of the important mines in this 
county ; the last mining work was at the depth of eighty 
(80) feet; the mine material is a hard clay slate, with a 
small per cent, of disseminated iron pyrite; the ores are 
reputed good. 

THE WYATT 

is one-fourth (J) mile west of the above, and is probably 
part of the same vein. 



HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

/ 

THE HOWIE 

is one and one-fourth (1J) miles northwest of the Wash- 
ington ; it has been extensively worked and to a depth of 
more than three hundred (300) feet. 

The ore is quite like that from the Washington, but 
more quartzose, and has numerous seams of quartz, 
which generally are associated with the richer ores. 

The yield of this mine has been estimated at $750,000. 

The ore body is more than one (1) mile long, coursing 
jN". 60° E., and has been worked for nearly one-half (J-) 
mile of that distance; the vein is four huudred (400) 
feet wide. 

The schists are altered down to the level of standing 
water, and peroxidized, and the ore to that point is soft 
and easily treated; below the water line the ore is ex- 
tremely hard. Sulphurets (iron pyrite) to the extent of 
one (1) per cent, are generally present in all the material 
mined. 

Soft ores assay $2.05, $9.02, $15.32, $21.32, $43.06. 

Hard ores run from $2.62 per ton to $34.17, and as 
high as $310.51. Large bodies of the rubbish pile con- 
tain $3.26, tailings $3.53. 

Other parts of the tract show large bodies of soft clay- 
like auriferous material, which has been successfully 
treated; the whole formation is apparently auriferous, as 
well as the so-called veins. 

The "Big Survey " lands come in between the Howie 
and the Davis, two and one-half (2J) miles to the north- 
east. The corporation owning this intervening tract has 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 235 

done little to encourage mining, and there is in conse- 
quence scanty knowledge of its value in minerals. 
At this point, 

THE DAVIS LINE, 

a remarkable series of mines commence, four (4) of which 
lie in regular succession from southwest to northeast, 
viz.: the Davis, Phiffer, Lewis, and Hemby. For the 
distance of one and a half (1J) to two (2) miles the 
course of this deposit is a series of shafts, for the most 
part shallow, but occasionally sunk as deep as one hun- 
dred and fifty (150) feet — e. g., the Davis. The whole 
deposit has been enormously rich, especially the Phiffer, 
where, on Mint Hill, au open cut has been excavated 
one hundred (100) feet in diameter, and fifty (50) feet 
deep. IsFbne of these are worked systematically. The 
Lewis has two (2) and possibly more veins; the Hemby 
has several — three (3) different series are reported. 
Assays are $8.30 per ton to $34.53. 

MOORE HILL 

is situated one (1) mile southwest of the Davis, and 

FOLGER HILL 

a half (J) mile west ; this mine has been worked to a 
depth of ninety (90) feet. 

THE HARKNESS 

is a half (J) mile east of the Lewis; its greatest depth 
is one hundred and twenty (120) feet, where a fine quartz 
vein was found, showing free gold abundantly. 



236 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

These deposits are in clay slate, with a chloritic or 
talcose tendency; the gold is in a free state for the most 
part, with a small proportion of sulphurets, and occa- 
sionally of galena. 

One half (J) mile northeast is the 

SMART. 

This mine has been worked to a depth of seventy (70) 
feet, and a fine body of galena was reported to have 
been uncovered. 

THE CRUMP MINE 

near by is four (4) miles from Stout's Station, on the 
Carolina Central Railroad. 

This mine was in active operation till the middle of 
the summer of 1885, when the buildings and machinery 
were destroyed by fire; it is now filled with water. It 
is noted for its remarkable pockets and splendid nug- 
gets, in which form the gold usually comes. 

Davidson County. 

The mining work of this county was almost sus- 
pended in 1885, although several mines had been ac- 
tively at work in previous years. 

THE CONRAD HILL 

mine is situated about seven (7) miles nearly east of 
Lexington. This locality has had a double history by 
reason of a divided ownership; the veins at their out- 
crop, and for a moderate depth to the east of the north 
and south dividing line, belonged to the old "Morehead 



MININCi IN NORTH CAROLINA. 237 

estate," and to the west of this line to another party. 
The old description and designation of " Conrad Hill " 
of thirty (30) years back apply to the former, the later 
use of the name to the westerly tract. The mine is now 
operated by the Conrad Hill Gold and Copper Com- 
pany, of Baltimore. 

The "country" of the mine is composed of quartz- 
itic-argillaceous schists, though they resemble and are 
described as talcose. 

There are seven (7) veins in this mining district, pos- 
sibly eight (8), of which only five (5) outcrop, or if the 
others do the same, the evidence is obscure or obliter- 
ated. 

Six (6) of the veins have been worked. All are bold 
and very marked in their characteristics, and of more 
than usual width, ranging in thickness from two (2) to 
eight (8) and, at points, to fifteen (15) feet; all are free 
from dislocation or other disturbances. 

Five (5) of these, called north and south veins, course 
N. 10° to 15° E., and dip westerly; two (2), designated 
east and west veins, run N. 60° to 80° E., and dip 
southwardly. 

The vein matter is quartz, the mineral matter yellow 
copper pyrite (chalcopyrite) with various copper min- 
erals resulting from alteration, such as cuprite, mala- 
chite, melaconite, etc., and always auriferous; chalybite 
is a common accompaniment; the mine matter is remark- 
ably destitute of all distinctive iron minerals, chalybite 
excepted ; even iron pyrite is rarely met with. In the 



238 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

upper zones the sulphurets were, for the most part, 
altered or peroxidized, but in the lower zones not much 
changed. 

Financial derangements have brought about a discon- 
tinuance of all mining work for the present, but during 
the later and prosperous years the work was carried on 
by careful and systematic methods. The general course 
of metallurgical treatment is outlined below: 

The mine matter was partly sorted out underground, 
and still further hand-cobbed and picked in the sheds; 
the richer ore was sent at once to the copper works; the 
residues after passing through a Blake crusher were jig- 
ged, and the best material added to the richer mine stuff 
above alluded to; the poorest material from the jigs was 
rejected, the medium grade sent at once to the stamp 
battery and amalgamated as usual; the tailings from the 
battery were partly concentrated by buddles'and blank- 
ets, and the concentrates sent to the copper works. 

At the outset the richer copper minerals were, after 
roasting, smelted in a shaft furnace for matter from 
which, after re-smelting, a black copper was obtained 
and refined. 

This material, however, was not suited to this treat- 
ment, as the necessary basic matter was lacking to make 
a proper flux, and smelting was superseded by the wet 
method under the Hunt & Douglas patent. 

In this process the crushed ore, after roasting, was 
subjected to a bath of protochloride of iron and leached; 
the copper was precipitated from the liquor by metallic 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 239 

iron and refined. The residues, now mostly peroxides, 
were sent back to be milled, amalgamated and, to a 
slight extent, concentrated again. The final products 
were gold bullion and refined ingot copper. 

The greatest depth reached in this later work was 
four hundred (400) i'eet. 

SILVER VALLEY 

mine is twelve (12) miles a little south of east from 
Lexington, and five (5) miles a little east of north from 
Silver Hill. 

The prevailing formation is a silicious argillaceous 
schist. The contents of the vein is a milk-white and 
very barren looking quartz, which disclosed no mineral 
matter of value till a depth of sixty (60) feet was 
reached, though the upper part was not destitute of 
auriferous brown ore. 

The presence of galena was suspected twenty-five (25) 
years before, and a great deal of prospecting work was 
undertaken to find it, but the shaft was sunk in the 
slates a long way to the west of the present shaft, where 
the galena disseminated in the schists seemed most prom- 
ising. 

The vein now described was found in 1880, and was 
reached only by a shrewd guess. 

The outcrop of quartz is sometimes twenty (20) feet 
wide, but the vein below is five (5) to twelve (12) feet 
thick, With ore seams five (5) inches to five (5) feet; the 
vein runs a little east of south to west of north, and dips 



240 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

westerly at an angle of about 45°; the average width is 
thought to be twelve (12) feet. 

It is laminated in structure, and has alternate bands 
of ore and slaty matter. The ore is sometimes massive, 
and sometimes so disseminated or mixed with the quartz 
that it will not dress down to more than one-fourth (J) 
to one-eighth (J). 

The massive ore is cobbed out and hand-picked; the 
mixed material is milled in a twenty (20) stamp mill, 
and concentrated in buddies, blankets and launders, and 
latterly, by Rittinger tables. The latest recorded con- 
centrating work is indicated in analyses IV and V, 
though better work has been claimed. 

Analysis 1 more nearly represents the common run 
of the slightly cobbed ore, and No. Ill the massive ore; 
No. II is exceptional, and yet often met with. 

The possibility of concentrating the mine stuff into 
a smelting product fairly free from zinc is shown in No. 
V, but the losses, as concentration has hitherto been 
practiced, are enormous. 

The large per cent, of zinc has hitherto been the only 
difficulty in the way of an extensive employment of the 
valuable resources of this mine. 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 241 

ANALYSES : 

I. II. III. IV. V. 

Poor concen- Rich concen- 

Gold Trace. $ 4.13 Trace. $4.13 $4.13 

Silver $13.30 150.15 $32.45 9.58 38.06 

Total J13.30 $154.28 _$3_2_.45 $1^71^ $42.19 

per cent. per cent, per cent, per cent. per cent. 

Lead 15.89 55.25 38.80 11.18 47.62 

Zinc 31.44 11.24 32.00 27.70 12.68 

The gold is far from being uniformly diffused, for the 
presence of a little iron pyrite makes a considerable dif- 
ference in the gold contents. 

TILE WARD 

mine, two (2) miles east of Silver Valley, has been sunk 
upon to a depth of eighty (80) feet; there are four (4) 
nearly parallel veins. This property has also a large 
amount of surface suitable for hydraulic treatment. 

It received a very favorable notice from Prof. Em- 
mons, the former geologist of North Carolina. 

SILVER HILL 

mine is five (5) miles a little south of west from Silver 
Valley, and ten (10) miles southeast of Lexington. It 
was at the outset known as the Washington mine, and 
is described in Emoions's report under that name; it 
has also been called the Davidson mine. 

The country is an indurated clay slate, very silicious. 

There are two (2) nearly parallel veins ten (10) to 

twenty-five (25) feet apart, and two (2) subordinate 

veins of less importance and apparently of limited ex- 
11 



242 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

tent, with some subordinate ore bodies, whose relations 
are not known. 

The upper part to the depth of one hundred and sixty 
(160) feet has been carefully described by Emmons; of 
the lower part few records exist. The mine is entered 
by six (6) vertical, and by one (1) inclined shaft, but the 
main vertical shaft at the depth of 160 feet is changed 
to an underlay shaft in the east vein ; the west vein below 
the 200 foot level is entered from the east vein by cross 
cuts. 

The unaltered ore consists of galena and blende, 
always argentiferous, and to a slight extent auriferous. 

The upper zone of ore in all the veins has undergone 
the usual transformations and peroxidization, with the 
result of leaving the gold and the silver in part free. 

At the first the real character of the ore was not sus- 
pected, and the outcrop was worked for gold chiefly, 
with silver as an incidental. At a greater depth some 
of the most remarkable specimens of lead carbonates, 
phosphates, arsenates, and sulphates, etc., were obtained 
with interesting forms of native silver. These gave 
place to galena and blende before the depth of eighty (80) 
feet was reached, though even down to 160 feet the oxi- 
dized ore occurred in some quantity. At the depth of 
one hundred (100) feet the ores took on their normal un- 
altered character as shown in assays V, VI, and VII. 
The average composition of the ores at the depth of two 
hundred (200) feet according to Prof. Genth, at one time 
the company's chemist, was : 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 243 

Galena 21.9 percent. 

Copper pyrite 1.8 

Blende 59.2 " " 

Iron pyrite 17.1 " " 

Gold and silver 025 " " 

Total 100.025 per cent. 

Or, 

Lead 18.97 per cent. 

Zinc : 39.68 "' " 

Copper 1.19 " " 

Average silver of 200 assays 1\ ounces, gold small. 

The mine has been worked to depth of 725 feet on 
the underlay shaft, which is equivalent to a vertical 
depth of 600 feet. 

Little is known of the ore bodies at this depth, though 
the chimney is know to exist in both veins, probably 
with smaller dimensions than in the levels above 200 
feet; the ore is massive, and carries apparently fully as 
large a per cent, of zinc; its relative value in the pre- 
cious metals is not known. Nos. V, VI and VII indi- 
cate the general character of the ore in depth. 

The later exploitation of this mine was in the shallow 
part. An inclined shaft was sunk in 1878, cutting 
through some outlying bodies to the east of the old 
workings, and with the intention of cutting the back 
vein at the depth of 160 feet; a considerable body of 
"carbonates" was uncovered, but the grade was too low 
for profitable work. See Nos. I, II. Nos. Ill and IV 
are analyses of the iron pyrite. 

The difficulties of treating this ore, as alluded to in the 
notice of Silver Valley, whose ores it resembles, are so 



244 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

great, as to have precluded the use of them for general 
metallurgical purposes, for which, were zinc absent, they 
would be valuable. 

ANALYSES : 

Carbonates. Iron pyrite. 

I. II. III. IV. 

Gold! $ 8.78 $2.07 $3.10 $10.34 

Silver.... 17.23 3.96 4.13 2.18 

Total.JI26.01 _$6.03 $7.23 $12.52 

Lead 3.8 per cent. 31.94 per cent. .67 percent. 

Zinc 27.28 percent. 2.08 per cent. 

COMPACT GALENA. 

V. VI. VII. 

Gold $ 4.14 $ 6.20 $ 4.13 

Silver... 2.75 9.17 9.55 

Total.J>_6.89 $}&& $13.68 

Lead 22.94 per cent. 56.72 percent. 12.57 percent. 

Zinc 7.14percent 34.29 per cent. 

THE WELBORN 

mine, two (2) miles west of Silver Hill, has reached the 
depth of sixty (60) feet; ores, sulphurets, galena, and 
blende; assays for gold and silver are $7.60, f 10.88, 
$13.90, $19.26, $39.20. 

THE 8YMONS 

mine is two (2) miles west of Silver Hill in the Cross 
neighborhood. The shaft is down forty (40) feet; the 
mine material is good brown ore. The machinery con- 
sists of a five (5) stamp mill. 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 245 

THE DAVIDSON OR EMMONS COPPER 

mine is now operated by the Consolidated Gold and 
Copper Mining Co., of Baltimore. 

It is situated two (2) miles southeast of Silver Valley. 

It was extensively worked for copper down to 1872, 
when it. was abandoned; it was reopened in the fall of 
1885. 

It is entered by two (2) shafts 680 feet apart, respec- 
tively 416 and 300 feet deep. The vein is six (6) feet 
wide and well defined; it is filled with quartz and slate, 
with chalcopyrite ; the percentage of copper is not large, 
but the ore is readily susceptible of concentration to a 
high grade. The schists are deep green in color, and of 
a silicious and chloritic character, strikingly like those of 
Gold Hill. 

The ore is valued chiefly for its copper constituent, 
and is not regarded as carrying much gold. 

THE CID 

mine, one and one-fourth (1J) miles northeast of the 
Emmons, is apparently in the same horizon, and the 
description of the one answers to that of the other, 
though it has been too little worked to allow of any 
statement of its permanency; the shaft is down one hun- 
dred (100) feet. 

The other mines in this slate belt will be discussed 
under the heads of their respective counties, e. g., Gold 
Hill, McMakin, and others. 



246 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

The granitic axial area of North Carolina, extending 
from the northern boundary of the State southwest into 
South Carolina, has also a large number of mines. 

The ore yielded by these mines is always auriferous, 
and occasionally also cupriferous ; they are not known 
to carry more than trifling amounts of either lead, zinc, 
nickel or silver, the latter, where occurring, being asso- 
ciated and alloyed with gold. 

In Guilford County, 

the north extremity of this belt, the only mines at work 
are the Fisher Hill and the North State (McCullough). 

The former is seven (7) miles south of Greensboro, 
and is operated by the Fisher and Willis Hills Mining 
and Smelting Co. It comprises a tract of 800 acres. 
The vein is extremely flat. The deepest shaft is down 
106 feet, and a fine body of ore has been uncovered at 
the depth of seventy-five (75) feet, whose width is ten 
(10) inches to four (4) feet; already the explorations 
have exposed it to a length of fifty (50) feet; it is brown 
ore and sulphurets, milling $30 per ton. 

A second series of shafts, four (4) in number, have 
been sunk to the northwest on Willis's Hill, 150 rods 
distant from Fisher Hill ; at the depth of 50 feet good 
pockets of brown ore have also been uncovered. 

The milling plant consists of -ten (10) stamps, with all 
necessary appliances for long continued and successful 
work. 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 247 

THE NORTH STATE MINE, 

under the North State Gold and Copper Mining Co., is 
two (2) miles south of Jamestown. 

The vein runs nearly northeast and southwest and 
dips eastward nearly 45°. The shaft is down nearly 
.'350 feet; the vein is four (4) to eight (8) feet wide. In 
the lower levels, where the work is most largely pur- 
sued at present, the ores are mostly sulphurets, some- 
times massive, but more generally scattered in a quartz- 
ose gangue, and require a cobbing or other concentrat- 
ing. The ores carry a small per cent, of copper, and are 
commonly of a good grade. They are shipped for treat- 
ment to the Davis Chlorination Works at Salisbury. 

The mill has twenty (20) stamps. 

THE HODGINS HILL 

mine, one (1) mile north of Fisher Hill, 

THE LINDSAY, 

two hundred (200) yards southwest of the North State, 
and 

THE JACK HILL 

to the north, both continuations of the North State, are 
all idle. 

THE DEEP RIVER MINE, 

two (2) miles south of the Lindsay, is unworked, as is 
also 

THE FENTRESS, 

or N. C. copper mine, two (2) miles northeast of the 
Fisher Hill ; this mine has been worked to a depth of 



248 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

310 feet, and at one time produced a high grade of cop- 
per sulphuret ; it is believed that a large body of like 
character remains. 

In Davidson County. 

the mines in the slate belt, e. g., Conrad Hill, Silver- 
Hill, have already been described. 

The only important mines in the granite belt are the 
Lalor, Eureka and the Black. 

TAE LALOR, 

(formerly Allen) mine, is two miles south from Thomas- 
ville. It is not now operated. 

It is entered by three (3) shafts, the deepest of which 
has reached a depth of 165 feet on the underlay. 

The vein is reported of good width, and carries a fair 
percentage of copper. 

The lowest grade brown ore is reported to assay $20, 
and the highest grade sulphuret $190. 

THE EUREKA MINE, 

one-half (J) mile west, is also idle. The depth of last 
workings was 125 feet; the vein is of good width; the 
ore is quite like the Lalor ore. Assays, $25.19, $41.47, 
$46.51, $73.55, up to $1,890. 

THE BLACK MINE 

is immediately adjacent to the Eureka; the vein is 
small, but the ore has a high reputation. 



MTNING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 249 

Rowan County, 

The only mines in this county at work in 1885 were, 
Gold Hill (Randolph, Old Field and Hunnieut veins), 
Dunn's Mountain, Holtshauser and Gold Knob. 

The Yadkin (Davis) Chlori nation Works were supplied 
from several mines along this belt. 

No work of importance was done in 1885 at the 

dunn's mountain mine, 

four (4) miles southeast of Salisbury. The operations 
were chiefly confined to clearing out old shafts, in the 
expectation of extended works in 1886. Of the three 
(3) veins on the property only the " office vein " has been 
operated; this vein has turned out some very good mill- 
ing ore ; the mine material from the other veins was 
from such a depth that only sulphuretted ores could be 
expected, and they are slightly cupriferous. 

AT THE REIMER MINE, 

six (6) miles southeast of Salisbury, no work has been 
done since the burning of the plant in February, 1884. 
The depth of this mine is 150 feet. The chimney of ore 
was nearly 400 feet long, and four (4) to eight (8) feet 
wide. 

At this depth the material was largely iron pyrite 
(pyrrhotite), of moderate value. Assays of ore were 
$11.32, $36.00, $126.77. 

THE YADKIN (OR DAVIS) CHUORINATION WORKS, 

one and a half (1J) miles south of Salisbury, was in 
active operation in 1885. Heretofore the ore supply 



250 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

has been taken from its own mines — the Yadkin and the 
Reimer — but the destruction of the concentrating ma- 
chinery of the latter has compelled the manager to seek 
a supply from other sources. The works have chiefly 
been run on material from the North State, the Rudisill 
and the Saint Catharine. 

The establishment is operated under the Meares chlo- 
rination patent, the marked feature of w T hich is chlorina- 
tion under pressure. 

The essential points of this method are in outline — 
the crushing of the ore to pass through a forty (40) to 
sixty (60) mesh screen, roasting in reverberatory furnaces 
of the common type, chlorination in a tightly-closed 
revolving Freiberg barrel, leaching of the chlorinated 
mass, and filtration of the auriferous liquor through a 
filter of fine charcoal to eliminate and absorb the gold, 
the careful burning of the charcoal and melting of the 
ashes containing the gold. 

The barrel is an iron cylinder lead-lined; the chlori- 
nation is accomplished by chloride of lime and sulphuric 
acid, the pressure being effected by the chlorine gas, which 
is liberated. 

AT THE DUTCH CREEK MINE 

a very little work was performed, though the resources 
are promising. 

This group of mines is on the waters of Dutch second 
creek, ten (10) miles east of Salisbury, on the Stokes 
ferry road. The superintendent reports twenty-two 
(22) veins on the property, two being copper-bearing. 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 251 

The main development is on Hill, Tiptop and Katie 
veins, which afford a good supply of brown ore down to 
the water level and are in width from one (1) foot up- 
wards, and, where the Hill and Tiptop cross, eighteen 
(18) feet wide. The shafts are down 110 feet. The 
adits and levels aggregate 1,000 feet. The ore varies in 
value from $10 to $30. The copper veins are down 
respectively fifty (50) and forty (40), and are three and 
a half (3 J) to four (4) feet wide. The ore is of good 
grade, both as to copper and gold. 

THE GOLD KNOB MINE 

was. slightly prospected in 1885, and no force was kept 
constantly at work. A five (5) stamp mill is run in 
connection with the mine. Sixty (60) feet is the great- 
est depth reached in any of the veins, of which there are 
eleven (11) on the various tracts owned by the company. 
The production was very small. The ore is abundant, 
and heavily sulphuretted, assaying $20.68, $26.62, $27.38 
and $108.55. 

THE ATLAS AND BAME 

were not in operation in 1885. 

IN THE GOLD HILL DISTRICT, 

the only work done in 1885 was in the Gold Hill mine 
on the Randolph or western vein, and in the Old Field 
vein, and in the Hunnicut vein. 

THE HUNNICUT VEIN 

was leased during the greater part of 1885 to a local 
company of miners, and the work was pushed very vig- 



252 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

orously till the expiration of the lease. A fine body of 
ore was raised and milled in a Howland mill attached 
to the mine. 

A little work was done in the Randolph shaft (740 
feet) and on the 280 foot level, and in the Old Field 
vein at 130 feet, but the ore was not milled. This mine 
is now controlled by a London company, and the home 
business of the company has not been favorable; conse- 
quently the work has not been pushed at the mine. 

This, the most noted mining district in North Caro- 
lina, is fourteen (14) miles southeast of Salisbury in the 
southeast part of Rowan county, and exteuds southwest 
into Cabarrus, and to a slight extent into the northwest 
part of Stanly. It is situated on the narrow plateau of 
a low lying northeast and southwest ridge. The num- 
ber of veins is commonly estimated to be ten (10); this 
group with its connections is one and one-half (1 J) miles 
long from northeast to southwest, and two-thirds (f) of 
a mile wide from northwest to southeast. 

The district is one (1) mile east of the granite, and is 
in close contact with a diorite group on its east. 

The prevailing type of formation is chloritic argil- 
laceous schist, the chloritic element being more marked 
at the northeast end, and the argillaceous at the south- 
west. 

The striking characteristics of this district are the 
great permanency of the veins both in depth and extent, 
and their freedom from disturbances, and the variety and 
richness of th** ores. T believe there were no bold out- 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 253 

crops, and in some cases (e. g. the Randolph) they were 
so obscured and covered, that they were only discovered 
by accident, and at a comparatively late date in the his- 
tory of the mines of the State. • 

The more noted veins are the Randolph, Barnhardt, 
Hunnicut, Open Cut copper vein on the Standard prop- 
erty, the Trautman gold vein, and the McMakin silver 
vein. But closely associated with each large vein are 
outlying bodies, which may also be independent veins, 
e. g. the Old Field body, which is between the Barn- 
hardt and Hunnicut, and is made up of several nearly 
parallel — six (6) — bodies of ore, which are very narrow 
and intercalated with slates. 

THE RANDOLPH, 

almost, if not quite, the extreme northwest vein of the 
group, has been worked mote or less for a length of 
1,500 feet, and to a depth of 740 feet; there are three 
(3) principal shoots of ore extending to the greatest 
depth to which the mine has yet been worked. The 
Randolph shaft (740 feet) passed through the Texas 
shoot, and just cuts the north edge of the Big Sulphur 
shoot, and is but a few feet distant from the Randolph 
shoot. 

Little exploratory work has been done at the bottom 
of this shaft, and little can be said of the shoots, or the 
quantity or the value of the ore ; at this depth the ores 
are entirely sulphuretted, mostly iron pyrite, but with 
enough copper pyrite to give a copper contents of two 
(2) per cent. 



254 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



THE BARNHARDT VEIN, 



400 feet east of the above, has been equally exploited 
to a shallow depth, and down to 100 feet; below 100 
feet the works have extended only 400 feet along the 
vein ; the ores are like those of the Randolph, but less 
cupriferous. 

Both of these veins will probably afford a large quan- 
tity of ore, which can be treated advantageously only by 
a preliminary concentration. 



THE OLD FIELD VEIN, 



to the southwest of the main workings of the Earn- 
hardt, and quite near to them, consists of a series of 
strings (veins) of ore intercalated with the schists; these 
seams are frequently of great richness, but the gold 
"jumps" from one seam to another so often as to give 
some embarrassment in mining. 

The depth of 130 feet has been reached. 

The body of cupriferous mineral still further south- 
west on the 

STANDARD PROPERTY 

was worked mostly by open cut. The vein consists of 
several narrow belts of taleose schists charged with min- 
eral matter, altered to gossan in the upper zone, and 
sulphuretted in depth ; this body is sometimes sixty (60) 
feet wide at the depth of twenty (20) to forty (40) feet, 
but at greater depths the ore body tends to concentrate, 
and becomes only thirty (30) feet. 

The deepest workings were eighty-four (84) feet. 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 255 

THE TRAUTMAN GOLD VEIN 

is the least known of the more prominent ore bodies. 

Down to twenty (20) feet the ores are an auriferous 
porous quartz with limonite; twenty (20) to sixty (60) 
feet down a mixture of hematite with highly ferrugin- 
ous quartz, with a little crystallized pyromorphite, 
cerussite and other lead minerals; lower down auriferous 
pyrite and quartz. The ores are frequently rich in gold. 

THE MCMAKIN MINE 

is the extreme southwest of the vein of this system, and 
like the Trautman mine, is mostly in Cabarrus county. 

It has been exploited by pits for several hundred 
yards, but the deep workings have extended over a 
linear distance of about 200 feet. The lowest level is 
111 feet distant. In addition to the main body of ore 
there is a "small or west" outlying vein eleven (11) to 
fourteen (14) feet distant. The outcrop was hematite, 
dolomite, and various manganese ores, the latter disap- 
pearing at twenty (20) feet; lower down plumbago, 
cerussite, pyromorphite and other plumbiferous matter 
appeared, and at sixty (60) feet the unaltered minerals 
came in, viz.: blende, galena, iron pyrite, copper pyrite, 
and highly argentiferous tetrahedrite — blende predom- 
inating with a slight admixture of galena and tetra- 
hedrite. 

At greater depths blende gradually disappears, and 
tetrahedrite becomes more abundant. The width of the 
vein at 75 to 100 feet ranged from four (4) to ten (10) 
feet. 



256 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

The importance of such rich galena will be manifest, 
when good metallurgical establishments shall be at work 
in this section. 

It may be well here to call attention to the large 
number of veins in the southeast part of Rowan county, 
and the adjacent parts of Cabarrus and Stanly counties. 
To the industry of T. K. Bruner, Esq., Dr. Rumple 
and J. J. Newman, Esq., we owe good maps and 
sketches of this part of Rowan county. These and the 
data prepared by Mr. Bruner show more than a hun- 
dred mineral localities here, and as many more in the 
adjacent parts of Cabarrus and Stanly counties. Of 
most of these we know little, as the surface of the 
country is so rugged as to make exploration difficult, 
but there is little doubt that these hidden stores will 
some day play an important part in the developed re- 
sources of North Carolina. 

Cabarrus County. 

There is at present less activity in mining in this 
county than in former years; the only mines now oper- 
ated, of the sixty (60) or seventy (70) in this county, are 
the Phoenix, North Barrier, Joel Reed, Rocky River, 
the Reed and the Clay. 

Nearly all the mining localities are within two to four 
miles of the east boundary of the county, and lend them- 
selves with facility to an arrangement by mining dis- 
tricts, of which there are four (4) of importance, viz.: 

1st. The Gold Hill group. 

2d. " Rocky River group. 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 257 

3d. " Phoenix group. 

1th. " Pioneer Mills group. 

Of these the first two (2) are in the slate formation, 
previously described as the Davidson county belt; the 
third and fourth are in granite; all are near the contact. 

The mines in the Gold Hill group have been for some 
years entirely neglected. 

THE JOEL REED MINE, 

near Concord, has been operated only at intervals, and 
no great depth has been reached, but the returns have 
been amply remunerative for the amount of work given 
to it. 

THE QUAKER CITY MINE 

is down eighty (80) feet. The ores were sulphuretted 
and refractory, and operations were suspended. The 
mill was on Buffalo creek, three (3) miles from the 
mine. 

THE PH03NIX MINE, 

seven (7) miles a little south of east from Concord, has 
been worked for many years with great vigor and skill, 
both in the mining department and in the metallurgical 
establishment connected with it. 

The mine is entered by four (4) underlay shafts, one 
to a depth of 365 feet; from this shaft levels have been 
driven both northeast and southwest, and a good body 
of ore developed, three (3) to three and a half (3J) feet 
wide. Assays show this to be of good quality, separa- 
ting easily into two (2) grades— the best $40 to $67.14, 
and the poorer $10 to $16.88. 



258 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Hardly any sloping has been done below the 250 
foot level, and the reserves are as large as at any time 
in the past. 

The chlorination works are of the capacity of eight 
(8) tons per day. The plant was constructed to work 
under the Meares* patent, but so many changes have 
been made, that it can now hardly be designated by that 
name. The establishment is quite complete, consisting 
of a battery of ten (10) stamps, two (2) Frue vanners, 
four (4) horizontal rotary furnaces for roasting, four (4) 
barrels for chlorinating, leaching and precipitating tanks. 
The ores are generally cupriferous to a slight percentage, 
and a small amount of cement copper is produced after 
the removal of the gold. 

THE NORTH BARRIER MINE 

has been worked to a depth of seventy-five (75) feet, 
but operations have been confined to mere explorations. 

THE TUCKER MINE 

has not been worked to any extent since the preparation of 
the Hand-Book of 1883, and the statements there made 
will apply now, though there is more and better ma- 
chinery there now. 

THE ROCKY RIVER MINE, 

of 350 acres, is ten (10) miles southeast of Concord, 
and one (1) mile from Bost's mill. 

The mine is consolidated from the Jake Shin and the 
Tom Shin mines. 



MINING FN NORTH CAROLINA. 259 

There are seven (7) veins in this tract, of which only 
three (3) have been worked to any extent. 

Five (5) shafts have been sunk ranging from thirty - 
eight (38) to fifty-five (55) feet in depth ; veins range in 
width from two (2) to five (5) feet. There is frequently 
sufficient galena in the ore to enrich it appreciably in its 
precious metal contents. 

The ores are from fair to high grade, assaying $17.05, 
$6.05, $48.66, $67.70, $62.94. 

THE REED MINE 

is ten (10) miles southeast of Concord. 

There are four (4) veins on the property besides allu- 
vial deposits. The gravel or surface part of this mine 
is not worked at present, but for some months one of 
the veins has been drifted on, and a splendid chimney 
of quartz has been developed, whose richness is apparent 
to the most casual observer ; the work at present is at 
the depth of sixty (60) feet. 

This mine was the first to give celebrity to the gold 
fields of the Appalachian Range, though probably not 
the first to yield gold. The first nugget was found here 
in 1799 ; the largest nugget, twenty-eight (28) lbs avoir- 
dupois, was unearthed in 1803; regular mining work 
commenced some years" later, and for a period of forty 
years continued to send forth its golden stream. 

The proportion of large nuggets has not been paral- 
leled on this side of the country, though the Sam Chris- 
tian has had a similar history, as also the Parker mine. 
The Reed, unlike them, has large underground resources. 



260 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

THE CLAY MINE, 

near Pioneer Mills and twelve miles southeast of Con- 
cord, has been operated at intervals only, but with fair 
returns for the work expended. 

THE ALLEN FURR MINE, 

twelve and one-half (12J) miles southeast of Concord, 
shows a large amount of massive iron pyrite with a lit- 
tle galena; the size of the block would seem to confirm 
the general belief that the vein is a wide one — four (4) 
to eight (8) feet. Depth of workings fifty (50) feet; the 
material is very refractory, and this fact coupled with its 
high contents in pyrites (including a trace of copper py- 
rite) and its rather low tenor in gold and silver, makes 
the problem of its treatment a difficult one. 

Assays $48.10, $35.27, $7.37, $7.24. 

The Salisbury Watchman enumerates about fifty (50) 
other mining localities in this county. 

Mecklenburg County. 

Five (5) mines are in operation in this county — the 
Henderson, the Frazier, the Baltimore & North Caro- 
lina (Ray), the St. Catharine, the Rudisill and the Harris 
or Surface Hill. 

THE HENDERSON, 

eight and one-half (8J) miles northwest from Charlotte, 
has been simply prospected and some of the ores shipped ; 
no great depth has been attained, and there is no machin- 
ery for treating the ores. 

Assays have been $72.98, $64.67, $14.35. 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 261 

THE FRAZIER MINE 

has been worked to a depth of eighty (80) feet and a 
vein of good ore uncovered one (1) to one and one-half 
(1J) feet wide; at this depth the ore is largely free mill- 
ing, though unaltered sulphurets begin to appear in 
quantity. The ore was treated at the Rudisill mine mill. 
Assays: $186.68, $50.27. . 

THE BALTIMORE AND NORTH CAROLINA PROPERTY 

is also known as the 

RAT MINE. 

There are five (5) veins on this tract of 360 acres, of 
which only one is now worked — the Ray vein. It is 
situated nine miles southeast of Charlotte, and near the 
Carolina Central railroad. 

This vein is entered by six (6) shafts, the deepest of 
which is about 150 feet; the ores are now heavy sul- 
phurets containing some copper. 

The total length of veins on this property is about 
four (4) miles. The south vein has been sunk upon to 
a depth of sixty (60) feet, and the Phifer Grove vein 
forty (40). In neither of these had the works penetrated 
below the level of free ores. 

This mine is fully supplied with machinery and all 
milling appliances. The battery has ten (10) stamps. 
Assays, $20.95, $31.82, with generally a good per cent, 
of copper. 

The lowest point reached in the 



262 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

ST. CATHARINE 

is 350 feet, and the work has been carried on with great 
vigor for some years. Both of the veins have been 
worked. The ores now are almost exclusively sulphurets, 
but they invariably carry a large amount of free gold. 

As soon as brought to the surface they are cobbed and 
hand-sorted into a high grade of shipping ore for smelt- 
ing works, and of a low grade for mill treatment on the 
grounds. The machinery consists of a ten (10) stamp 
battery, with two (2) Frue vanners for concentrating the 
tailings. The concentrates are generally sufficiently rich 
to justify shipping. 

The products are a high grade bullion and a high grade 
of smelting ores and concentrates. 

THE RUDISILL, 

one (1) mile southwest of Charlotte, has been sunk upon 
400 feet. 

The "Bush Hill" end of the mine, adjacent to the St. 
Catharine, was reopened in the latter part of 1885, but 
the work is not advanced enough to justify any conclu- 
sions as to the value of the vein here. 

Much of the mining work has been done in the shal- 
lower levels of the old part of the mine above the two- 
hundred (200) foot gallery, where, at present, high grades 
of sulphurets are found in quantity. 

Concentration by cobbing and hand-picking is prac- 
ticed to obtain a grade of smelting ore, and the residue 
is milled, and occasionally the tailings are concentrated 
on Frue vanners or other machinery. 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 263 

The milling is done by a Wiswell mill, a recently 
introduced machine. Electro-galvanic action is some- 
times employed in connection with it, but this feature of 
the reduction has not been successful here thus far. 

Ores assay: $6.20, $11.47, $21.79, $30.42, $39.66, 
$61.43, $91.89, $129.18, $178.39. Entire shipments 
will average $100 to $175 per ton. 

THE HARRIS MINE 

is ten (10) miles nearly east of Charlotte. The stretch 
of mining property upon which this mine is situated is 
known to have rich gravel. Surface Hill, one of these 
localities, is famous for its rich nuggets, and occasional 
pockets of ore are found of extreme richness. The 
locality is badly situated in point of water supply; other- 
wise the rich gravel would be worked. 

Of the numerous mines of this county not now worked, 
the following brief notices may be made. 

THE MCGINN MINE, 

five (5) miles northwest of Charlotte, has three (3) veins, 
two (2) carrying the gold ores usually found in this sec- 
tion, the third having rich copper as well as gold ores. 
The copper vein has been mined to a depth of 165 feet, 
and a remarkably rich chimney of copper ores exploited. 
The more prominent of the two (2) gold veins (the 
Jane) has been penetrated to a depth of 150 feet, and 
worked with some success as deep as the machinery 
could command the water. 



264 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Ore assays have been $4.37, $12.50, with 4.^- per 
cent, of copper, $15.72, $6.82 with 7.^- per cent, of 
copper, $82.77, $114.36, $137.93. 

The Jane vein runs at its south end into the 

CAPPS HILL PROPERTY, 

where it is joined by the prominent vein known as the 

OAPPS VEIN. 

The system has been worked to a depth of nearly 200 
feet, but the later work was performed above the 130 
foot level. 

The Jane vein has furnished good bodies of ore, 
but the reputation of the property has been founded 
mainly on the Capps vein. This vein is unusually large, 
and has given three large chimneys of ore, besides sev- 
eral smaller bodies. It is among the largest producers 
of the county if not indeed the. largest, being credited 
with a yield of $2,000,000. 

Two (2) of the chimneys are known to reach the 
depth of 130 feet, but that level had not been suffi- 
ciently extended to cut the third. 

At this depth the ores are mostly heavily sulphuret 
ted, and a large dump of rich iron pyrite is accumu- 
lated. 

Assays $7.10, $56.35, $96.37, $133.00, $133.76. 

THE CLARK MINE 

has been worked to a depth of seventy (70) feet. There 
are two (2) veins. 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 265 

The ores assay, $8.34, $16.70, $33.25, $67.25, $74.71, 
$126.69, $164.44. 

THE SMITH AND PALMER MINE 

has not been worked to any notable extent since the pre- 
paration of the Hand-Book of 1883. Shaft down 100 
feet, and levels driven ; ores assay, $4.66, $15.51, $72.34, 
$149.59. 

THE FERRIS (FAIRES) MINE, 

six (6) miles northeast of Charlotte, is a prominent min- 
ing property, with three (3) veins. 

The assays of ores, $20.14, $10.34, $28.94, $44.32, 
$111.16, $128.66, $220.54 and $512.94. 

THE SIMPSON MINE 

yields quartz ores, with little sulphurets. No work has 
beeu done here for four (4) years. Assays of represen- 
tative lots have been $3.79, $4.75, $7.37, $29.97, $70.87. 
As a rule the ores of this mine are of low grade, but 
the vein is large, and capable of yielding large amounts 
of milling material. 

THE STEPHEN WILSON MINE 

has ten (10) well-defined veins; it yields ores of values 
indicated as follows: $4.52, $11.37, $36.56, $51.50, 
$97.53, $261.76, $355.96. 

THE BLACK MINE 

has a vein of the richest sort of brown ore, and large 

lots of it have milled $50 per ton ; assays of the same 

have run $50.16, $62.00, $488.12, 
12 



266 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Other mines in the county are: 

The Arlington Guarantee, five (5) miles west of Char- 
lotte. 

The Carson, Sam Taylor, Tayhorn, southwest of 
Charlotte. 

The B. F. Wilson and R. McDonald, one and one- 
half (1 J) miles southeast. 

The Davidson group, 1 mile west — a very prominent 
series. 

The Trotter, 

The Dunn, nine miles west, with three (3) veins, one 
(1) with copper. 

The Hipp and Todd are near the Frazier. 

The Chapman is to the northwest. 

The Huntersville, sixteen (16) miles north of Char- 
lotte, has been explored to a depth of twenty-three (23) 
feet, found to carry some good ore. 

The Hunter, Crosby cfc Rogers are twelve (12) to 
seventeen (17) miles northeast of Charlotte, towards 
Pioneer Mills ; these three (3) mines carry copper as well 
as gold. 

The Nowell, the Pharr and other mines are near by. 

The Johnson, Stinson, Maxwell and Rhea are seven 
(7) to nine (9) miles east of Charlotte. 

The Alexander is five and one-half (5J) miles north- 
east, and the Caldwell six (6) miles. 

The farm of the Elliott Bros., five (5) miles south of 
Charlotte, has several veins, one of which is rich in a 
very high grade of copper ore, 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 267 

The Nolan, Means, Bennett, Cathy, the G. C. Cathy, 
Sloan, Gibson, McCorkle, and several others are within 
easy reach of Charlotte. 

The Trediwick is seven (7) miles east, one and one- 
half (1 J) miles southwest of the latter mine, and in the 
vicinity of Sardis church is a group of veins, of which 
only one has received a name — the Hunter — and only 
two (2) have been explored enough to afford any useful 
information ; the two veins are about fifty (50) rods 
apart. No great depth has ever been reached in these 
veins, although the ores have generally been of good 
grade. 

None of the metallurgical establishments about Char- 
lotte have been successful, and none is now at work. 

THE GNEISSOID FORMATION 

extends westward from the granite area into Tennessee; 
the character of this area was outlined in the introduction. 

Gaston County. 

The only mines at work are the King's mountain, 
Duffle, and the Rhodes. 

THE KING'S MOUNTAIN MINE 

near the village of the same name, is now in the hands of 
a new company, which, during 1885, merely tested some 
bodies of ore hitherto little known. The main part of 
the mine is still filled with water. 

The main shaft of this mine has reached the depth of 
332 feet. The vein (or front and back vein, as it is 



268 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

commonly spoken of) is of great thickness, sometimes 
reaching to forty (40) feet : the front vein has generally 
been the richer; assays run from $3.55 to $11.84, 
$16.79 and $45.94. 

The vein is in limestone; it's great width, the ease 
with which it is worked and milled, and the small 
amount of sulphurets (about three (3) per cent.) com- 
bine to make even the low grade material profitable ore 
to treat. The mill has forty (40) stamps. 

A yield of $750,000 is attributed to this mine. 

THE CALEDONIA (OR CROWDER's MOUNTAIN MINE) 

is three (3) miles southeast of King's mountain mine, 
and on the east side of the mountain. This body of 
land comprises 1500 to 1600 acres. 

The veins are simply parts of the formation more 
highly auriferous. There are several of these belts on 
this extensive property. The gold seems to be associated 
in the gneisses or schists with a small percentage of iron 
pyrite, and to a less extent with copper pyrite. 

THE PATTERSON MINE, 

of like character, is one-fourth (J) mile northeast of the 
above. 

Neither of these mines has been operated for several 
years. 

One-half (J) mile still further northeast is the 

CROWDER's MOUNTAIN BARYTES MINE, 

(or Stamford Manufacturing Company's mine). A very 
small amount of barytes was shipped in 1885. 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 269 

THE DUFFIE MINE 

is near Mount Holly on the Lincolnton railroad. It 
has been worked to a depth of 150 feet. A large body 
of sulphurets is found in this mine, assaying : $5.79, 
$12.95, $8.31 to $47.37. 

THE ROBINSON MINE 

adjoins the Duffie, and is of a similar character. 

the Rhodes' mine, 

on the south fork of the Catawba, near Dallas, has been 
worked a very little in 1885. 

There is no vein properly, but the whole body of mi- 
caceous schists or gneisses, now much altered, is aurif- 
erous. 

the long creek property 

has three (3) veins — Long creek, Dixon and Asbury. 
The ores of these mines are generally of low grade. 
Assays of Long creek ores are: $4.14, $10.34, $21.94, 
$821,84. 

Other mines iu this county on same formation are the 
Oliver, Rhyne and Burrell Wells. 

Lincoln County. 

No mines were worked in this county in 1885. 

There are but few gold mines in this county. Prom- 
inent among those which have been worked are the 
Hoke and the Burton. 



270 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

THE HOKE, 

four (4) miles from Lincolnton, has been opened to a 
depth of 110 feet, and drifted upon for some length. 
Ores assay $17.09 to $95.32. 

THE GRAHAM MINE, 

four (4) miles northeast from Iron, has been prospected 
to the depth of thirteen (13) feet, by pits along about 
100 feet of the outcrop; the vein is thirty (30) inches to 
forty-two (42) inches thick. Assays $18 to $35, and 
$89.74; the ores always contain a little copper, and 
occasionally the material becomes a veritable copper ore. 

Catawba County. 

The Shuford was the only mine worked. This mine 
is slightly south of east from Catawba Station, four and 
one-half (4J) miles. 

The mining tract contains 425 acres, but the mining 
part embraces only twenty (20); this area is covered 
with auriferous quartz, and the soil is also auriferous ; 
the underlying schists or gneisses are penetrated with 
seams and veins of quartz, generally gold-bearing. The 
mine is of that class which can only, be worked by 
hydraulic methods, at least as a preliminary; its essen- 
tial features are those practiced in Georgia, viz.: the 
washing down of the soil by a stream of water under 
a heavy pressure into sluices where a part of the gold is 
saved, and thence to a mill (stamp- battery) where the 
quartz is subjected to crushing and amalgamation. The 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 271 

supply of water is always the most important considera- 
tion in work of this nature; at the Shuford the supply is 
not so large as could be desired. 

Later work has been almost exclusively devoted to 
the veins in depth — work which is conducted after the 
usual modes of underground mining. 

THE A. D. SHUFORD MINE, 

three-fourths (f) of a mile to the southeast, was not 
worked in 1885, nor were there any operations within the 
writer's knowledge in any other localities in this county- 

Davie County. 

In the gueissoid formation in Davie county are sev- 
eral localities where gold has either been mined or found 
in some quantity. The only prominent mine is 

THE BUTLER (OR COUNTY LINE) MINE, 

eight (8) miles southwest of Mocksville. No work is 
done there at present. The only assays of ore are $8.27 
to $8.75 per ton, but occasional masses are met with 
much richer. 

CALLAHAN MOUNTAIN , 

was worked a generation ago; results are unknown. 

THE ISAAC ALLEN MINE 

is one (1) mile northwest of Mocksville. 

There are deposits of gold in Clarksville Township, 
seven and a half (7 J) miles northwest of Mocksville; 
also seven (7) miles northeast, in Fulton Township. 



272 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

THE BARNES MINE 

is eight (8) miles west of Taylorsville. 

Ashe County. 

THE COPPER KNOB MINE 

(formerly Gap Creek) is situated in the southeast part of 
xlshe county, and fourteen (14) miles southeast of Jef- 
ferson; the tract contains 210 acres; the deepest under- 
ground work is 135 feet; the vein is twenty (20) inches 
to forty-two (42) inches wide. This mine has afforded 
the finest kind of peacock copper ore, and is sometimes 
more valuable for its copper constituent than for the 
precious metal. 

It is one of a group of mines, but none of the others 
have been explored, w 7 ith the exception of Rich Knob, 
two (2) miles distant. Assays are as follows: $60.27, 
$10.88, $166.37 and copper 37-^ per cent., $61 .45 and 
copper 23-j^y per cent. 

Dressed ore has been obtained carrying gold and sil- 
ver $79.75 and copper 37-^ per cent. 

This mine has not been operated for four (4) years, 
and is so deeply in legal difficulties that no prediction 
can be made respecting its future course. 

Caldwell County. 

The mining work done here in 1885 was extremely 
desultory, and the results very small ; it consisted of 
gravel mining exclusively. 

There are but few veins in Caldwell, at least that are 
known to the general public. 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 273 

Twelve (12) miles north of Morgan ton, and on the 
northeast side of Johns river, is the 

BAKER MINE. 

Two well-known veins are on this property — a gold 
vein and a galena vein. 

The gulches leadiug up to this mine were rich and 
extensively worked, and are still worked on a small 
scale. 

The galena vein is reported to carry a large amount of 
galena, rich in gold and silver. 

Other mines in this neighborhood are the Michaux, 
Pack's Hill and Corpening. 

Burke, McDowell, Rutherford and Cleveland Counties. 

The gravel area of the Upper Laurentian, where these 
counties come together, is fifteen (15) to twenty (20) miles 
long from northeast to southwest following the general 
direction of the mountain ranges, and from ten (10) to 
fifteen (15) miles wide. It barely touches the northwest 
corner of Cleveland county. 

The Polk county deposits, some twenty-five (25) miles 
southwest, form probably the extension of this area. 

Gold occurs over the intervening space in Rutherford 
county, but little is known of its vahie for mining pur- 
poses. 

Almost everywhere in the limits indicated gold is 
found, but not always in paying quantities, for there are 
belts within the large belt. Of these narrow belts in the 
broad belt of these four (4) counties there are three (3) 



274 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

fairly well-defined '(for exact limits cannot be given 
where the entire formation is auriferous). 

THE FIRST OR RUTHERFORD BELT 

is in the extreme northeast part of that county, and just 
touches the county of Cleveland; it is on the head-waters 
of the First Broad ; this belt is four (4) miles long and 
one (1) to two (2) miles wide; Golden Valley is the cen- 
tral point. 

Two and one-half (2J) miles to the northwest is the 
famous 

BURKE COUNTY BELT, 

with Brindletown for its main point. This belt is pro- 
bably not more than one and one-half (1 J) miles wide; 
it commences, as far as paying gravel indicates a com- 
mencement, at Bailey's creek six (6) miles southwest of 
Morganton on the road to Rut her ford ton, and continues 
parallel to the main chain of the South mountains, and 
on the spurs projecting out of its northwest side, for ten 
(10) or twelve (12) miles to the head-waters of Cane 
creek. 

THE THIRD OR MCDOWELL BELT 

is four (4) miles to the west, and has for its centre Hunt's 
mountain and Nichols' mountain; it is probably two (2) 
miles wide. 

It is situated on the head- waters of North Muddy 
creek, and of the Second Broad river, and is for the most 
part on the east of the road from Marion to Ruther- 
ford ton. 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 275 

This region, in common with the whole of the Caro- 
linas and Georgia, has undergone extensive alterations 
and decomposition, and subsequent wearing or drifting 
down, by which the gold has been left in the surface 
soil, and more largely in the bottoms of streams both 
ancient and modern. The old streams and sinks receiv- 
ing the ancient drift and wash are the richest deposi- 
tories. 

They are usually of no great length or breadth, but 
oftentimes quite numerous. 

It will readily be understood that the operations of 
the past, when little capital was employed and little ap- 
paratus, were necessarily confined to such deposits as lay 
near water, or to which water could be easily brought. 

The greater part of these accessible places was long 
ay:o exhausted, and the work of the future will be on 
those deep-lying gravels, which require expensive dig- 
ging to remove the overlying soil, or else a heavy and 
powerful stream of water to wash it away. The possi- 
bilities of remunerative work from the washing of 
gravel alone are growing less, and the attention of the 
chief operators is directed to a combination of the 
hydraulic and mill treatment. This surface to a great 
depth is altered and softened, and readily yields to water. 
The veins will not generally allow of exploitation one 
by one, as in ordinary mining, as they are too narrow, 
but a treatment of the entire ore channel as a whole is 
frequently applicable. When the conformation of the 
ground admits, and the gulches are deep enough, the 



276 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

whole formation including many seanra (or veins) of 
quartz may be easily undermined to a great depth, and 
the whole mass washed down into sluices, and thence to 
mill for battery treatment and amalgamation of the au- 
riferous quartz and hard masses. 

This combination is already employed at several locali- 
ties, and will no doubt ultimately be largely extended. 

Occasionally, veins of moderate width or even narrow 
seams can be profitably exploited in the common way 
by adits from the gulches entering at points so low as to 
make expensive hoisting and draining plants unneces- 
sary ; gravity tramways can often be constructed to 
place the ore in the mill-house with scarcely any hand- 
ling. 

The surface in this belt is very rolling, if not moun- 
tainous, and affords opportunities for novel combina- 
tions at once efficient and economical. 

The foregoing statement respecting the occurrence of 
the auriferous bodies applies very generally to all the 
localities, though all have minor differences. 

IN THE FIRST OR RUTHERFORD BELT. 

the best known localities are: the Grayson — gravel and 
vein mine of 250 acres; it has several distinct veins of 
low grade auriferous quartz. 

THE LAWSON SMAKT MINE, 

gravel, of 500 acres, is one (1) mile north. 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 277 

* THE GAMBLE MINE, 

gravel, is two (2) miles southwest; 126 acres are in the 
tract. 

THE MCCURRY MINE, 

Dear the Lawson-Smart, has both gravel and veins. 
None of these are now operated to any extent. 
In the second or 

BURKTE BELT, 

the following are the most noted mines: 

THE HANCOCK MINE, 

near Glen Alpine. This is worked as a gravel mine. 

THE GLEN ALPINE, 

near the hotel of that name, is also a gravel mine. 

THE CAROLINA QUEEN, 

one (1) mile southwest of the Springs, is both vein and 
gravel. The last work was upon the veins; there is a 
battery on the premises. 

J. C. MILLS, 

at Brindletown, is in the very heart of the most produc- 
tive part of the belt. His mining tract contains 2,500 
acres. This large stretch embraces auriferous deposits of 
various kinds; gravel is abundant, and there are many 
veins easily exploitable. The mining here is very skill- 
fully done, but to a far slighter extent than its resources 
warrant. Mr. Mills has made some effort to exploit the 
veins as well as the gravel. 
In the 



278 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

THIRD OR MCDOWELL BELT, 

the only localities now at work are those of the Vein 
Mountain Company and the Granville Company. 

THE VEIN MOUNTAIN COMPANY 

are at work on their property of 6,000 acres at Nichols' 
mountain, eleven (11) miles south of Marion, and at 
Hunt's mountain, four (4) miles northeast of Nichols' 
mountain. 

Water is brought to Vein mountain in the company's 
ditch from the upper branches of the Second Broad river. 

The gulches about this, mountain, though worked for 
forty (40) years, still yield their rich contents. 

So far, only hydraulic work has been done, but not to 
the extent which this important locality would justify. 
During the last three (3) years many veins have been 
discovered and prospected. Within a few months a ten 
(10) stamp mill has been erected to treat the quartz from 
these veins and from the gravel. The supply is appar- 
ently abundant for a still larger plant. 

The quartz assays: $2.18, $4.13, $6.20, #10.33, 
-SI 3.43, and occasionally above $25. 

THE NORTH OR HUNTSVILLE MOUNTAIN 

tract has been less prospected, but abounds in rich gravel. 
A difficulty in supplying this area with water has pre- 
vented the vigorous prosecution of the work here. An 
increased supply in 1885 admitted of some new work, 
and resulted in the discovery of some unexpected and 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 279 

very rich gravel. The veins on this tract have never 
been fully examined. 

Very little work was done at the Hard Bargain tract, 
one-half (J) mile west of Nichols' mountain. 

AT THE GRANVILLE MINE, 

two (2) miles northeast of Nichols' mountain, a little 
work was done in the latter part of 1885, under the 
Marion Bullion Company. 

Polk County. 

In Polk county the only work done in 1885, outside 
of petty gravel-washings, was accomplished by the Col- 
linsville Mining Company, near Sandy Plain, in the 
southeast part of the county. Vein mining is carried 
on at several mines controlled by the company, and the 
ore was treated in the company's mill at Collinsville. 

AT THE DOUBLE BRANCH MINE 

very little work was done. The quartz is rich and will 
assay well— $2.07, $9.30, $33.77 and $466.28. 

About twenty (20) localities are known in this county, 
extending fifteen (15) miles in a direction nearly across 
the belt. 

THE PRINCE MINE 

is four (4) miles south of the Double Branch. It is 
purely a surface mine, and the work is entirely hydraulic. 
Other localities are the Patty Abrams, Wetherbee, 
Red Springs, Tom Arms, Splawn, Ponder, Riding, L. 
A. Mills, Carpenter, Hamilton, Neal and Maclntire. 
These all had a good reputation in the palmy days of 



280 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

mining, while- the deposits contiguous to water lasted ; 
but at present none can be worked on a large scale with- 
out a larger supply of water than can be afforded from 
the vicinity of the mines. A sufficient supply could be 
obtained only from the North Pacolet, in the southwest 
part of the county, by a ditch twenty (20) miles long. 

The geology of this county is like that of Burke, 
McDowell and Rutherford, previously described, but 
being much flatter it is lacking in those natural advan- 
tages for cheap mining. 

Granville and Person Counties. 

The area of auriferous and argentiferous copper mines 
of these counties is so remote from the well known 
mining region, that its connection with any belts cannot 
be fully established; its geological associations are simi- 
lar to those of the eastern belt of Montgomery and the 
western of Moore. 

The district is from five (5) to seven (7) miles long, 
from northeast to southwest. 

Six (6) localities in this district are well known, viz : 
The Big America mine, the Copper World, the Hollo- 
way, the Gillis and the Yancey. 

THE BIG AMERICA MINE, 

in Granville county, one (1) mile from the Person line, 
and two (2) miles south of Virginia, has reached a 
depth of 65 feet; the shaft is an underlay and is in the 
body of ore; a drift has been run in the vein for 75 
feet. The ore body is from one (1) to four (4) feet wide, 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. 281 

consisting of bornite, malachite, etc. ; verylittle chalcopy- 
rite is found. Several carloads of ore have been ship- 
ped to northern smelting works, ranging in contents: 
copper 21.27 per cent., and silver $4.95, to copper 50.5 
per cent. 

The ore is reported free from arsenic, antimony, etc. 

THE COPPER WORLD, 

one (1) mile southwest in Person county, is down 112 
feet, and has a small but valuable vein of bornite, etc., 
of high value in copper, and with a good tenor in silver. 

THE HOLLOWAY, 

near by, has two (2) veins, explored respectively 20 and 
16 feet deep. The former shows a two and one-half 
(2J) feet vein of copper glance, etc., assaying 20 to 23 
per cent, for copper, and with some silver; the latter is 
not deep enough to justify any statement. 
At the 

GILLIS MINE, 

five (5) miles southwest of Slue V/ing, little has been 
done. The vein is 18 inches to 5 feet wide, with a nar- 
row but exceedingly rich streak of chalcocite, chryso- 
colla, etc. ; this ore is readily dressed, and reaches a high 
contents in copper. 
At the 

BUCKEYE, 

a perpendicular shaft has been sunk 30 feet, and a good 
showing made. The ore is bornite, etc. 



282 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

THE YANCEY 

has been idle for more than a year. 

The ore is of like character, assaying as follows : 
Copper 48.17 per cent., gold and silver $9.94; cop- 
per 2(3.16 per cent., gold and silver $8.01 ; copper 31.14 
per cent., gold and silver $2.62. 

This has never been investigated and is little known. 

COPPER. 

None of the copper works of the State are now in 
operation. 

THE ORE KNOB 

establishment in Ashe county has been idle for three (3) 
years. The low and falling price of copper discouraged 
further work, though the ore body at the depth of 400 
feet is still of fair average contents, and can by sorting, 
etc., be brought up to a good smelting mixture. The 
plant is large and extensive, and fitted for the produc- 
tion of ingot copper of high grade. 

The copper works at Conrad Hill, and the incidental 
copper production at the Phoenix Mine Chlorination 
Works in Cabarrus county, have been described previ- 
ously. 

The localities now at work which can furnish copper 
ores are: the Person and Granville county mines, the 
Davidson or Emmons mine in Davidson county, Gold 
Hill iu Rowan county, and the Phoenix mine in t Cabarrus. 

Several allusions to copper mines have been made in 
the course of this article, but no others are now at work. 



MINING IN NORTH CAROLINA, 283 

SILVER, LEAD AND ZINC. 

No mines yielding these metals are now at work, ex- 
cept that silver is an incidental associate of gold in every 
mine in the gold belts. 

The chief localities from which these metals may be 
expected have already appeared in the notices of Silver 
Valley, Silver Hill, McMakin, Smart and Baker mines. 

Gaston County. 

ORMOND IRON ORE BANK. 

This ore deposit is 30 miles south of west from Char- 
lotte, and two and one-half (2J) miles from Wootton's 
Station on the Atlanta Railroad, and one-half (J) mile 
from that road, with which it is connected by a special 
branch. 

This mine is one of several owned or controlled by 
the Carolina Mining Company, among which are the 
Yellow Ridge, Ellerson, Costner and others. 

THE ORMOND 

has been examined twice underground by the writer. 

The deepest workings are 140 feet, and it has been 
exploited by levels for a length of 100 feet. 

The ore body is reported to be from eight (8) to six- 
teen (16) feet wide, which is an underestimate, for in the 
level alluded to the width rose in one place to thirty (30) 
feet, and never fell below ten (10). 

The vein carries ore of two (2) kinds ; towards the 
hanging wall, and filling from one-third-to one-half 
(i t° 2) the crevice, is peroxide of iron pulverulent and 



284 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

crumbly, so as to lose its consistency as soon as ex- 
tracted; it has received the name of " Powder Ore;" it 
often has a nucleus of solid ore. The analyses of this 
class of ore were for four (4) shipments. 

Silica 0.43 per cent. .427 per cent 

Alumina 78 " .257 

Peroxide of iron 93.82 " 97.190 

Lime 45 " .56 

Magnesia 18 " .24 

Phosphoric an hydride 028 " .076 



Iron . 65.57 " 68.03 

Phosphorus 013 " .036 

Toward the foot wall is a still larger body of compact 
ore, of deep reddish brown color, approximating to Ttir- 
gite in composition ; it is locally called " Block Ore." 
The analyses of three (3) shipments are shown below : 

Silica 0.78 

Alumina 1.41 

Peroxide of iron 97.17 

Lime 488 

Magnesia 11 

Phosphoric anhydride 053 



Iron 68.01 

Phosphorus 023 

PRODUCTION OF NORTH CAROLINA IN PRECIOUS METALS. 

The ascertained production for 1885 was $125,866.17 

To this may be added for unreported product 15,000.00 

Note.— The Phoenix mine chlor. works and a few of the smaller 
mines declined to report, and were extremely reticent. The amount 
produced there will aggregate $15,000, and may reach $25,000. 



MINING IN NDRTH 0A1ROLTNA. 285 

Gold and silver contents in ores shipped from the State 

and not included in the above $> 6,900.00 

Total $147,766.17 

Note. — The value of lead, lime and copper in the above ore shipments 
may have amounted to $1,600. 

RESUME. 

Number of men regularly employed 698 

Number of men employed at intervals (estimated) 100 

Number of stamps , 459 

Chilian and other similar mills 17 

Smelting establishments 1 

Chlorination works 3 

Designolle reduction works 1 

Respectfully submitted, 

GEORGE B. HANNA, 

United Stales Assay Office, Charlotte, N. C. 



MANUFACTURES. 



Manufacturing Facilities. 



Extracts from paper read before the General Assem- 
bly by W. C. Kerr, State Geologist, in January, 1881 : 

"The circumstances which commonly determine the 
character and location of factories are a demand for their 
products, abundant and cheap raw materials, the neces- 
sary power (or the means for its generation), and avail- 
able capital. It is unnecessary to add to this category 
skilled labor, because the fore-mentioned conditions 
usually suffice to attract or create the necessary skill ; 
and this is true also, in general, of the capital required, 
unless there be abnormal, hindering conditions. 

"Now, it can be shown that all the necessary condi- 
tions exist in North Carolina for successful and profit- 
able enterprise in many, and in some most important 
branches of manufacture. 

"Consider, first, the most important of the above 
named manufacturing facilities, viz. : abundant and 
cheap power. 

WATER POWER. 

" The aggregate water power of the State is about 
3,500,000 horse-powers, and this force is distributed 



MANUFACTURING FACILITIES. 287 

over the entire area of the State (with the exception of 
a few seaboard counties), and is thus brought into juxta- 

sition with whatever raw materials or other advan- 
^eous conditions may be found in any part of its terri- 

ry. This is equal to the total power, water and steam, 
employed by all the manufacturing industries of Great 
Britain, the foremost manufacturing nation, and con- 
siderably exceeds that of the United States. Estimated 
in another way, it is equal to the power which would be 
produced by the combustion of nearly 4,000,000 tons of 
coal per annum. 

"This power is due to an average annual rainfall of 
upwards of fifty inches, and an average elevation of 640 
feet. Allowing 75 per cent, for evaporation, we have a 
residuum of about 46,000 tons to be discharged by the 
rivers. And a consideration of the greatest importance 
in estimating the availability of this power, is, that the 
rain-fall is nearly equally distributed through the months 
of the year, being as follows: For January, 4.5 inches; 
February, 5.3; March, 4.0; April, 3.9; May, 4.9 ; 
June, 4.3; July, 4.9; August, 6.1; September, 4.5; 
October, 3.3; November, 3.4 ; December, 3.7. 

"If the whole of this force were employed in cotton 
manufacturing, it would be adequate to turn 140,000,000 
spindles. All the cotton mills in the United States con- 
tain not quite 11,000,000. The water power of North 
Carolina would manufacture three times the entire crop 
of the country, whereas all the mills in operation on the 
continent only spin one quarter of it. Putting the crop 



288 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

of this State at 400,000 bales, she has power enough to 
manufacture fifty times that quantity. 

"The manufacture of cotton has been taken for illus- 
tration, because all the conditions of it are so well 
known, the raw materials are at hand in unlimited 
amount, and on terms which give a great advantage to 
the domestic manufacture, and the market is everywhere ; 
and especially because the staple is produced in five- 
eighths of the territory of the State, and the water power 
of eight-ninths of it (all east of the Blue Ridge) is 
within seventy-five miles of the cotton fields: and these 
advantages are enhanced by a most favorable climate, a 
varied and elastic agriculture, capable of furnishing 
foofl supplies to any extent to meet the local demand, 
and by the presence of not only ample power for such 
other affiliated and ancillary industries as might be de- 
veloped along with this, but also of abundant raw ma- 
terials for these other industries, as will appear presently. 

"ilnd as to the wide distribution of this power, just 
now, as well as previously referred to as an enhancement 
of its value, a few data from different sections will suf- 
fice to illustrate it. Not to dwell on details, such as for 
example, the fall of the streams, as far east as Carteret 
county, below Newbern, to an extent of forty feet, and 
the like descent of the waters of Brunswick, Beaufort 
and other seaboard counties, we will confine ourselves to 
certain aggregates, distributed through the territory of 
the State above and west of the limit where the streams 
emerge from the hill country into the great coast cham- 



MANUFACTURING FACILITIES. 289 

paign, at an elevation of about one hundred feet above 
the sea. Beginning with the Roanoke river, the dis- 
charge of which at Haskins' Ferry, some fifty miles 
above Weldon, is 170,000 cubic feet per minute, we have 
a force of 335 horse powers for each foot of fall, or an 
aggregate, for the part of the river lying in this State, of 
70,000 horse powers. 

"Tar river has not been measured, but its force above 
the Wilmington and Weldon railroad is not less than 
eight to ten thousand horse powers. The Neuse near 
Raleigh gives a force of twenty-two horse powers per 
foot, which will make for the whole river and its tribu- 
taries above Goldsboro, about the same aggregate as the 
Tar. The power employed in all the mills at Lowell, 
Mass., and at Lawrence is nine thousand, and the popu- 
lation of these towns is fifty and forty thousand respec- 
tively; this is an indication of the possible value of 
these rivers to the future development of the State, and 
these streams, draining only the lower section of the hill 
country, are less favorably situated for manufacturing 
purposes, and so have received almost no attention. 

" Haw river, the next in order as we go west, is the 
only stream in this quarter of the State which has re- 
ceived anything like adequate appreciation; it turns more 
spindles thau any other river in the State. The force of 
this stream is not less than forty thousand horsepowers; 
and that of Deep river, above its confluence with the 
Haw, is nearly as much, and the total of these and of 
the Cape Fear, with its other principal affluents, will not 
13 



290 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

be less than one hundred and thirty to one hundred and 
forty thousand horse powers, as previously stated. Smi- 
ley's Falls alone gives a force of 15,000. 

"Leaving out smaller intermediate rivers, the Yadkin, 
measured near Salisbury, at the railroad bridge, dis- 
charges 155,000 cubic feet per minute, which gives two 
hundred and ninety-four horse powers per foot, or, for 
the whole stream to the southern border of the State, 
with its fall of 1,000 feet from Patterson, two hundred 
and fifty-five thousand horse powers, a force capable of 
turning all the 10,000,000 spindles in the United States. 
Its tributaries would add at least 20 per cent, to this 
estimate, giving a grand total of more than 300,000. 
The Catawba, above the State line, with its chief tribu- 
taries, will give more than two hundred and fifty thou- 
sand horse powers, the fall at Mountain Island alone 
reaching not less than 12,000. 

"Broad river, with its tributaries out of Cleveland, 
Rutherford and Polk counties, and a fall for most of 
them of five hundred feet and upwards, will give an 
aggregate of sixty to seventy-five thousand horse powers. 

"Passing beyoud the Blue Ridge, the French Broad 
at Asheville measures one hundred and twenty-five, and 
at Warm Springs one hundred and seventy horse powers, 
which gives for this part of the river, from Asheville to 
the State line, 100,000. At Brevard, in Transylvania, 
it measures forty-eight, which adds 10,000, and the trib- 
utaries like the Swannanoa, Ivey, Laurel, <fec, add 5,000 
each, so that the French Broad may be set down at 175,- 
000 horse powers. 



MANUFACTURING FACILITIES. 291 

" The Nolechucky, in Mitchell county, measures near 
the State line, 190 horse-powers; so that we shall have 
for this hydrographic basin, between the Black, the 
Roan and the Grandfather, not less than 150,000 horse- 
powers. New river and its affluents in Watauga, Ashe, 
and Alleghany, will give about 120,000. The Tennes- 
see, at Franklin, gave 40 horse-powers per foot; and 
this with the Tuckasegee, Oconaluftee and Nantehaleh, 
which will average 25,000 each, and the Tennessee, 
with a fall of an addditional 500 feet below the conflu- 
ence of its main tributaries, will make a total for this 
basin of not less than 150,000 horse-powers. Pigeon 
river was not measured, but it differs little in power 
from the Tennessee above its confluence with the Tucka- 
segee, and will give, with its much greater fall to the 
State line, a probable aggregate of sixty to seventy-five 
thousand. And for the Hiwassee, the same estimate 
will hold. 

"If these approximate low water estimates of only a 
score of the larger rivers, be summed, they amount to 
one and one half million horse-powers, leaving out of 
the count a thousand smaller streams of 500 to 1,000 
horse-powers each. 

"The distribution of the water power may be illus- 
trated in another way, by estimating its amount for a 
given territory in different parts of the State. Take, 
for example, Chatham comity in the east and Wilkes in 
the west: the amount of force available in the former 
may be approximated by taking that of its principal 



292 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

streams, thus: Haw river will give 25,000 horse-pow- 
ers; Deep river, below Carbonton, 10,000; Cape Fear, 
6,000; Rocky river, 3,000; New Hope, 1,000; total 
45,000. For Wilkes the sum of the forces of all its 
dozen considerable rivers and as many more large 
creeks, added to that of the Yadkin, will give a total of 
not less than 70,000 horse-powers. 3 



>; 



STEAM POWER. 

The abundance of wood furnished by our forests and 
wooded portions of almost every farm will make it, on 
account of its cheapness, the fuel for steam power and 
for ordinary heating purposes for many years to come. 
Saw mills get their motive power from waste lumber. Cot- 
ton gins, grist mills, and what may be generally termed 
plantation mills, are all run by steam produced from 
wood cut near them. In the interior, where there is no 
railway or water transportation, all the small factories, 
such as wagon factories, foundries, plow factories, &c, 
have their machinery moved by steam made from wood. 
Wood can be bought at prices ranging from seventy-five 
cents to three dollars per cord, delivered, and until the 
supply is perceptibly diminished, or freight rates on coal 
are reduced very considerably, it will be relied on to cre- 
ate the power needed. 

The estimate of wood used for domestic purposes made 
by the census office is 7,434,690 cords, valued at $9,- 
019,569- 



COTTON FACTORIES. 293 

The completion of the Western North Carolina 
Railroad across the Blue Ridge to the Tennessee line at 
Paint Rock, has opened the East Tennessee coal fields 
to people living along the line of this road and its 
connections. Good bituminous coal is delivered at 
stations along these lines at about five dollars and fifty 
cents per ton. 

The coal from the Chatham mines, on Deep river, 
when worked, is sold at a price even less than this, but 
the supply is not regular. 

In no part of the State, where there is an eligible 
location for purposes of manufacturing, and where the 
raw material is cheap, abundant and accessible, is there 
any want of the means necessary for generating the 
needed power, whether this power is natural or created. 



Cotton Factories. 



Cotton manufacturing has long been an established 
industry in North Carolina. Though generally pros- 
perous, it advanced cautiously until within the last six 
or eight years, within which time it has been doubled. 

In 1870 the census reported thirty-three establish- 
ments, with a capital of $1,030,900, operating 618 looms 
and 39,897 spindles. 

In 1880 the census states the number of establish- 
ments to be forty-nine, an increase of sixteen over that 



294 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

of 1870, with a capital of $2,855,800, an increase of 
$1,824,900; 1,790 looms, an increase of 1,172; and 
92,385 spindles, an increase of 52,488. 

The actual number of completed mills iu the State, 
ascertained by reports from mill owners made to the 
Department of Agriculture, a list of which is subjoined, 
is eighty. These mills operate 4,071 looms aud 199,433 
spindles. It will be seen that, within the past sixteen 
years, the number of establishments has more than 
doubled. The number of looms has increased live hun- 
dred and fifty-five per cent., and the number of spindles 
four hundred per cent. Since the census report of 1880 
the number of looms and spindles has more than doubled. 

There are no accessible statistics by which a compari- 
son of products can be made, but the large increase in 
looms will add greatly to the money value, of the total 
product. Number 14 is the average yarn spun. The 
cloths, bags and bagging woven are of excellent quality 
and rank as leading standard goods in the markets. All 
these mills, except about twelve, are operated by water 
power. While good water powers will always be favorite 
investments, the low rates at which coal is and will con- 
tinue to be delivered at stations along the lines of railway 
that run through the cotton belt, and where raw material 
for manufacture can be bought at factory doors, will 
modify the almost exclusive use of water as a motive 
power, and will aid in building mills in localities that 
are supplied with the other governing facilities for man- 
ufacturing. 



COTTON FACTORIES. 295 

The amount of capital invested in cotton factories in 
the State by other than native citizens is inconsiderable. 

The opinion of the best-informed and most experi- 
enced manufacturers is to the effect that the proven, 
undeniable advantages of making at least the coarser 
fabrics where the material for t hem is grown, and where 
a favorable climate, light taxes and cheap labor are aux- 
iliary conditions, will maintain the rate of increase of 
the past five years. 



296 



HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



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WOOLLEN MILLS. 299 



Woollen Mills. 



There were according to the census of 1870 fifty-two 
establishments for the manufacture of wool, operating 
ninety-seven looms and 2,806 spindles. This enumera- 
tion embraced not only mills of considerable size, but 
also the small carding establishments. Since then the 
number of these has probably diminished, as the census of 
1 880 reported only forty-nine as the total number of such 
establishments. There has been, however, a substantial 
improvement in the mills themselves, both in their capac- 
ity for doing more work and better work, and also in num- 
ber. The subjoined list of woollen mills will show 
thirteen mills now running, with 131 looms and 4,466 
spindles. The supply of domestic wool is ample and 
convenient, and there is a ready sale at home and abroad 
for all the products of the factories. Blankets of excellent 
quality and fine cassimeres are made by the Forsyth, 
Catawba, Rockingham and Surry county mills. All 
the mills are run by water power except the Fries, Lash 
and Shortridge mills, in which steam is used. Until 
sheep raising becomes more of a specialty, and ceases 
to be a mere branch of general agriculture, there is no 
reason for believing that the increase of woollen manufac- 
tures will more than keep pace with that of population. 



300 



HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



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TOBACCO FACTORIES. 301 



Tobacco Factories. 



The enterprise of the people of North Carolina since 
the civil war has been trammelled by a want of capital. 
This has debarred them from entering upon undertak- 
ings of great magnitude, or, if attempted, they have been 
prosecuted at great disadvantage. Our cotton factories, 
in their increase, show what may be done by energy, 
skill and industry, under the most straitened circum- 
stances. Without external aid all have gone on increas- 
ing, and many have become imposing establishments. 
The manufacture of tobacco was attended to a less extent 
with this disadvantage. This business did not require 
the same amount as cotton manufacturing. It could, 
indeed, be entered upon and prosecuted with a very 
moderate caoital. In this field of manufacture the en- 
terprise of the people of the State has been most strik- 
ingly exhibited. The increase in tobacco factories during 
the decade included between the census of 1870 and 
1880 is not far from double. The number in 1870 was 
110; the number now is 218. The increase in the value 
of the property embarked in the pursuit is still greater. 
A recent sale of an iuterest in one of these factories will 
show this increase- — an extreme case it may be, but 
nevertheless, an actual one. An interest in a factory in 
Durham recently sold for a sum but a fraction less than 
the whole capital invested in the business in 1870. 
These factories are widely distributed through the State; 



302 



HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



and property of every kind has been enhanced in value, 
the sum of comfort has been increased through the em- 
ployment of women and children, and the general pros- 
perity promoted wherever they have been established. 
The following table will show their number and location : 

TOBACCO FACTORIES IN NORTH CAROLINA. 



COUNTIES. 


06 





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Alamance 


6 
4 
1 

3 

5 
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1 

1 
2 

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1 

1 

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2 

2 

1 


[McDowell 


1 

2 
1 

23 
1 
6 
8 

22 
4 
2 
4 


3 


Buncombe 




Caldwell 




2 


Caswell 






Person 


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Cleveland 


1 Rockingham 


1 




Rutherford -. 






7 

3 

10 

41 

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1 

7 




1 








Durham 






Forsyth 








Wake 


1 


Guilford 


Wilkes 






Wilson 


1 


Iredell 


Yadkin 


9 









Manufactures of Wood. 



By the census enumeration of 1880, there were 776 
establishments, with a capital of $1,734,217, employing 
2,938 men, receiving $447,431 wages. The products in 
part were 241,822,000 feet of lumber, 13,340,000 laths, 



MANUFACTURES OF WOOD. 303 

8,707,000 shingles, 1,253,000 spool and bobbin stock. 
The value of logs $1,490,616, mill supplies $86,523, 
and the total value of all products was $2,672,796. 
Most of these establishments are saw mills. Almost 
in every village there are carpenter shops, furniture and 
wagon factories, with capacities suited to the wants of 
the communities supplied. 

Raleigh, Wilmington, Newbern, Salisbury, Company 
Shops and Laurinburg have car shops, where railway 
cars for passengers and freight are made on the most 
approved models, and of most substantial and beautiful 
material drawn from the woods of the State. In all 
the cities and larger towns are builders and contractors 
who own and operate extensive factories. The hard 
woods have laid the foundation for extensive manufac- 
tures. There are spoke and handle factories at several 
points in the middle section of the State, where these 
woods are the predominant and almost unimpaired 
growth, which ship their products to all parts of this coun- 
try and Europe. At Hickory and at Salem there are 
extensive wagon factories that ship their work to all 
parts of the Union. Wilson, Goldsboro, Carthage, Fay- 
etteville and Raleigh, have important buggy and car- 
riage factories; and at Winston, Raleigh, Statesville, 
Lexington, Durham, Bush Hill and High Point, there 
are factories for the manufacture of shuttles and bobbins 
of dogwood and persimmon. 

There is at Newbern a factory for manufacturing 
plates and dishes of gum wood. It is the only factory 
of this kind. Its capacity is 80,000 plates per day. 



304 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Four hundred and fifty sweet gum logs forty-eight inches 
long are used per week, and four large flats are kept 
running to float in the logs. Engines with 200 horse 
power drive the machinery, and the factory is run on 
full time to keep up with its contracts. The capital in- 
vested is $20,000, and the amount paid in wages is 
about $21,000. 

The most valuable cabinet woods, such as walnut, 
cherry, maple and birch, have been felled in large quan- 
tities far in the interior and shipped abroad. Buyers 
from the North and West have made large purchases of 
these trees during the past year in the mountain counties. 
Since the display of unknown and almost incredible 
wealth of the State in its various woods, at the Atlanta 
Exposition, there has been a very active and growing 
demand for them. The supply is ample for shipment 
beyond the borders of the State for years to come, and 
it offers certain profits to enterprising and skillful work- 
men who will build their workshops near it. 



Iron Manufactures 



The census of 1880 puts down twenty manufactories 
of iron and steel in North Carolina, with a capital 
of $759,400. As long as it took five or six tons, 
of coal to convert two tons of ore into iron, the 



/ 



PAPER FACTORIES. 305 

transportation of fuel was so heavy and expensive that 
it put manufacturers in the State at a disadvantage, and 
made it profitable to miners to ship their ores where they 
had facilities to the great iron-making centres. But now, 
when under the present improved system of manufacture, 
one ton of coal makes a ton of iron, the advantages are 
reversed, and the fuel will be brought to the ore beds. 
The introduction of cheap coal, and the completion of 
the Western North Carolina railroad and the East Ten- 
nessee & Western N. C. road to the Cranberry mines, 
will build up furnaces and manufactures, and make them 
among our most important industries. 

There are large machine shops, railroad shops, found- 
ries, agricultural implement works, in all the cities 
and large towns, and in every village and at most of the 
country stores blacksmiths ply their trade. 



Paper Factories, 



There are five paper mills in the State — Buffalo, in 
Cleveland county; Lineolnton and Longshoals, in Lin- 
coln county; Salem, in Forsyth county; and Falls of 
Neuse, in Wake county. 

The daily capacity of the first three is about three 
tons each, and the products are French folios, bristol 
boards, writing paper, blotting, book and newspaper, 
manilla, wrapping and colored cover papers. 



306 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

The capacity of the Falls of Neuse mills is one ton . 
heavy paper per twelve hours, and 1,500 pounds light 
paper. Its products are book, Nos. 1 and 2; news, Nos. 
1 and 2; manilla and wrapping, No. 1. The water 
power is excellent. 

The capacity of the Salem mill is two tons per day. 

The supply of poplar and soft old-field pine has already 
attracted the attention of manufacturers of paper pulp, 
and, as the material has been tested and found satisfac- 
tory, and is to be had at almost nominal cost, there is 
little doubt that its manufacture will be one of the new 
industries. A company for this purpose has been organ- 
ized at Newbern, and the product made from cypress 
stock for fineness and length of fibre has no equal. 



Flouring and Grist Mills. 



Mills of these sorts are, as a rule,, of limited capacity, 
and are run to grind the wheat and corn grown in the 
neighborhood and brought to their doors. But little of 
the grain converted into meal or flour is sent away to 
market, and when they have supplied the communities 
for whose apparent convenience they were built, the mill 
wheels stop. A few large mills— some run by steam and 
others by water power — make' excellent meal and flour 
for the large provision markets, and their brands have 
wide reputation. 



RICE MILLS. 307 

At the last Mechanics' Institute Fair, held in Boston, 
wheat, corn, flour and meal grown and ground in North 
Carolina attracted especial attention, and were pronounced 
the best on exhibition. The wheat was plump and full, 
and weighed from four to five pounds above the commer- 
cial standard, and the flour produced from it was white 
and smooth and rich. 

The corn of the State is hard flint corn, heavier than 
the western corn, and better. It makes a white, sweet 
meal, and is largely bought by millers to mix with West- 
ern corn in grinding, to give the meal color and body. 
Formerly these mills were run almost entirely by water 
power, and there is still a strong feeling among dealers 
aud consumers in favor of water-ground meal. This, 
however, will not continue long. Improved machinery, 
driven by steam, produces a meal that defies detection; 
and cheap portable engines, and mills that can be placed 
wherever it is wished, will make convenience overcome 
prejudice. 



Rice Mills. 



The increased and growing production of both golden 
seed or lowland and white or upland rice has furnished 
in abundance raw material for rice mills, and they have 
increased in number and capacity during the past year. 
There are now in operation four mills. 



308 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

The Carolina Rice Mill, daily capacity, 1,000 bushels, Wilmington. 
Newbern " " " " 500 " Newbern. 

Washington " " " " 500 " Newbern. 

Goldsboro " " " " 468 " Goldsboro. 

The products of these mills are clean rice and what are 
termed by-products, rice flour and rice polish. Rice 
flour is the skin covering the grain, between it and the 
chaff. It is a slightly brownish meal, about the appear- 
ance of " wheat middlings," and is a rich, strong food 
for horses, cattle and hogs, producing fat rapidly. It 
contains about thirteen and a half per cent, of fat. Rice 
polish shows about half this amount of fat. This is 
made by subjecting rice cleaned of hulls and skins to 
very rapid friction. The fine particles turned off are 
the polish. It is a w 7 hiter and finer meal than the flour. 



Fertilizer Factories . 



There are six fertilizer factories in the State. In 
1883 there was but one. Two are situated near Wil- 
mington, one in Goldsboro, one in Raleigh, one in Dur- 
ham, and one in Tarboro. 

The Navassa Guano Company's works, near Wil- 
mington, on the West bank of the Cape Fear river, in 
Brunswick county, are very extensive, and their mills, 
offices and storage houses, make up a village in them- 
selves. 



FERTILIZER FACTORIES. 309 

The tracks of the Wilmington and Weldon, Wil- 
mington, Columbia and Augusta, and Carolina Central 
railroads pass their grounds, and with their wharf con- 
veniences supply necessary transportation. The com- 
pany was organized in 1869, with a paid up capital of 
$200,000. The works have been improved, and their 
capacity increased from time to time, until their annual 
capacity has reached 15>000 tons. There are large 
double chambers for making sulphuric acid, and a single 
for muriatic acid. The basis of their products is the 
Navassa and South Carolina phosphate rocks. From 
the beginning the enterprise has been highly successful. 

The Acme Manufacturing Company, at Cronly, 17 
miles from Wilmington, has built a neat manufacturing 
village for the operatives employed in its works. The 
milPs acid chambers and warehouses are models for the 
purposes of their construction. The capacity of the 
factory, with the machinery now run, is fifty tons of 
ammoniated fertilizer per day. The output can be con- 
siderably increased in the present buildings by the addi- 
tion of a few more machines. 

The Raleigh Oil and Fertilizer Factory was built in 
1884. It is well arranged and commodious, and has a 
capacity of sixty tons per day, which can be increased 
to one hundred tons. 

The factory at Tarboro will have a capacity of . 

The Durham Fertilizer Company has a capacity of 
thirty-five tons ammoniated fertilizer per day. Its 
facilities are ample. 



310 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

French Brothers have a mill at Rocky Point, and the 
North Carolina Phosphate Company has one at Castle 
Haynes and one at Raleigh, for grinding the conglom- 
erate rock, found on the lower Cape Fear, in which 
phosphatic nodules, sharks 7 teeth, shells, &c, are bound 
together by a cement of carbonate of lime. 



Pine Leaf Manufactory 



The manufacture of the pine leaf into a material to 
be used in the arts is, so far as known, pursued only in 
this State. The works are built at Cronly, a station on 
the Carolina Central railroad, seventeen miles from 
Wilmington. 

The daily product is fifteen hundred pounds of pine 
leaf hair and curled pine straw, sold to furniture and 
carnage manufacturers for stuffing cushions, chairs, 
sofas, &c, while the latter is used exclusively for mat- 
tresses, and is so prepared as to preserve the balsamic 
odor, for which medicinal virtues are claimed. 

In the process of manufacture an oil is distilled, called 
Pinoleum, that is considered valuable for its curative 
properties. 

The mattresses are sold largely for hospital purposes, 
and a large trade for all the products of the factory has 
been established in the Northern States and Canada. 



MILL STONES. 311 

Carders, looms and spinners have been added, and the 
fibre is converted into carpets and mattings which will 
be both useful and healthful. 

The natural color is brown, like the dried straw, but 
the fibre takes and holds dyes as well as any fibre, and 
better than most, and can be bleached nearly white. 



Mill Stones. 



There are in Moore county, near the Raleigh and 
Augusta Air-Line railroad, two mill and mill stone 
factories in operation. The material used has been pro- 
nounced by competent authority as unsurpassed for 
stones for grinding corn, and is abundant. It has been 
used in flouring mills, and occasionally found to be 
nearly equal to the French buhr-stone. 

The North Carolina Mill Stone Company, at Parke- 
wood, employs forty men and turns out fifteen portable 
mills and ten mill stones per month. The value of the 
annual product is $60,000. Mills have been shipped 
into more than half the States and into Canada. 

The Little River Millstone Quarry is situated on 
Little river, six miles from Manly, on the Raleigh and 
Augusta Air-Line railroad. Five experienced work- 
men are employed, and a mill is turned out every three 
weeks. Mills complete or mill stones are manufactured 
of 30, 33 and 36 inches, and have been widely sold in 
the State. 



312 HAND-BOOK OF NOBTH CAKOJLINA. 



Cotton Seed Oil Mills. 



There are nine cotton seed oil mills in the State : 

The Fayetteville Oil Mill, capacity 20 tons per day. 

Acme, Wilmington 10 " 

Charlotte 20 " 

Tarboro '. 20 " 

Raleigh 60 " 

Washington, J. E. Meyers " 

Goldsboro Oil Company, capacity 20 " 

Newbern Oil Mills, capacity 30 " 

Elizabeth City Oil Mills 12 " 

The cultivation of cotton has grown to such an extent 
as to make the seed sufficient in quantity to attract the 
attention of cotton seed oil manufacturers. If the sta- 
tistics are correct 180,000 tons of seed were used by the 
mills in the United States in 1881. The cotton crop of 
the State is estimated at 400,000 bales, and allowing 800 
pounds seed per bale, the cotton seed of this State would 
furnish nearly all the mills in operation in the United 
States. The regular growth of the industry would seem 
to indicate that it is profitable. Of the mills in this 
State, one was built in 1880, three in 1882, and five within 
the last three years. It is generally agreed that if the 
raw material, the seed, can be bought at reasonable 
prices, there is no more certain manufacturing enterprise. 
The supply of seed is large enough, but whether the 
farmers will sell them at prices which the manufacturer 



COTTON SEED OIL MILLS. 313 

can afford to pay for them is the problem that is to be 
worked out. The mills are owned by prudent and suc- 
cessful men, and unless the difficulties referred to are 
insurmountable they will become an established branch 
of our manufactures. 



14 



AGRICULTURE. 



The Farms in North Carolina 



ACRES OF LAND IN FARMS IN NORTH CAROLINA, 
ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS OF 1880. 



COUNTY. 


IMPROVED. 


UNIMPROVED. 


The State 


6,481,191 


- 15,882,367 


Alamance 

Alexander 

Alleghany 

Anson 


77,799 
48,985 
74,747 
90,061 
117,174 
44,887 
85,504 
40,563 
19,399 
99,602 
44,496 
90,514 
47,405 
36,757 
22,472 
89,885 
78,080 


129,269 

97,680 
75,278 
192,787 
169,988 
228,538 
202,533 
310,501 
307,680 
241,940 


Ashe 

Beaufort 

Bladen 


Brunswick 


Buncombe 


Burke 


140,623 

110,129 

160,174 

63,901 


Caldwell 


Camden 


Carteret 


69,660 


Caswell 

Catawba.... . . .. 


147,249 
141,593 



FARMS IN NORTH CAROLINA. 



315 



COUNTY. 



Chatham.... 
Cherokee . . . 

Chowan 

Clay 

Cleveland .. 
Columbus .. 

Craven 

Cumberland 
Currituck... 

Dare. 

Davidson . .. 

Davie 

Duplin 

Edgecombe. 

Forsyth 

Franklin.... 

Gaston 

Gates 

Graham 

Granville .. 

Greene 

Guilford .... 

Halifax 

Harnett 

Haywood ., 
Henderson 
Hertford . .. 

Hyde 

Iredell . 

Jackson 

Johnston . ., 
Jones 



IMPROVED. 



UNIMPROVED. 



126,940 
30,668 
36,052 
17,691 
87,691 
39,031 
52,392 
59,639 
41,170 
2,553 

129,664 
66,810 
73,061 

136,015 
79,350 
90,118 
70,672 
49,984 
8,551 

150,127 
75,942 

148,392 

137,245 
42,927 
52,132 
45,445 
55,857 
33,153 

112,365 
32,853 

107,585 
53,605 



302,306 
152,041 

49,180 

71,954 
176,248 
363,443 
199,199 
314,948 

56,846 

23,436 
209,331 

85,607 
307,473 
135,422 
135,773 
175,132 
130,673 
107,702 

53,892 
240,186 

86,828 
208,261 
217,754 
186,107 
118,170 
114,818 
130,261 

42,772 
211,716 
140,413 
315,235 
139,324 



316 



HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



COUNTY. 




Lenoir 

Lincoln 

McDowell 

Macon 

Madison 

Martin 

Mecklenburg. 

Mitchell 

Montgomery. 

Moore 

Nash 

New Hanover 
Northampton. 

Onslow 

Orange 

Pamlico 

Pasquotank.. . 

Pender 

Perquimans . . 

Person 

Pitt 

Polk 

Randolph 

Richmond 

Robeson 

Rockingham . 

Rowan 

Rutherford.. . 

Sampson 

Stanly 

Stokes 

Surry 



85,809 
57,523 
38,795 
39,370 
69,087 
57,030 

146,243 
42,572 
48,117 
70,922 
85,685 
7,715 
99,885 
56,768 
86,401 
17,525j 
51,770! 
.38,699 
54,433 
76,797! 

107,255 
21,762! 

100,888; 
76,067j 

120,480 s 
84,188 

110,178 
66,698 

121,469' 
61,279 
57,393 
81,690 



UNIMPROVED. 

128,034 
112,832 
126,993 
178,679 
164,488 
184,883 
147,164 
108,687 
192,952 
294,240 
214,716 

43,057 
172,763 
215,932 
190,192 

90,397 

46,464 
290,654 

63,994 
141,884 
227,150 

77,052 
292,996 
235,990 
403,842 
211,458 
174,553 
205,612 
396,479 
155,775 
168,780 
201,616 



FARMS IN NORTH CAROLINA. 



317 



COUNTY. 



Swain 

Transylvania 

Tyrrell. 

Union 

Wake 

Warren 

Washington. . 

Watauga 

Wayne 

Wilkes 

Wilson 

Yadkin 

Yancey 



IMPROVED. 



14,275 

20,636 

19,801 

86,428 

161,272 

87,183 

31,695 

69,999 

123,629 

100,151 

66,027 

60,070 

45,689 



UNIMPROVED. 



108,466 

80,219 

60,293 

216,832 

316,814 

168,553 

77,360 

139,993 

195,664 

292,205 

118,885 

138,011 

113,790 



GROSS NUMBER OF FARMS. 

The total number of farms in North Carolina is, ac- 
cording to the census of 1880, 157,609. 

CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO ACREAGE. 



The number of farms under 3 acres is 
" " " 3 and under 



277 



10 acres 13,314 

10 and under 20 " 34,148 

50 and under 100 " 34,007 

100 and under 500 " 61,806 

500 and under 1,000 " 5,063 

1,000 and over 1,721 

CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO TENURE. 

The number of farms occupied by owners is 104,887 

The number of farms rented for fixed money rental is 8,644 

The number rented for shares of produce is 44,078 



318 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

CLASSIFICATION OF FARMS OCCUPIED BY OWNERS. 

The number of farms so occupied under 3 acres is 128 

" " " 3 and under 10 acres 2,141 

" '• " 10 and under 20 acres 3,851 

" " " " " '■ 20 and under 50 acres 13,973 

" " " " " 50 and under 100 acres 25,929 

" " ■' 100 and under 500 acres 52,810 

" " " 500 and under 1,000 acres 4,447 

" " " 1,000 and over 1,608 

FARMS PAYING A FIXED MONEY RENT. 

[Jnder 3 acres 23 

3 acres and under 10 921 

10 acres and under 20 1,553 

20 acres and under 50 3,023 

50 acres and under 100 1,305 

100 acres and under 500 1,639 

500 acres and under 1,000 145 

1,000 acres and over 35 

FARMS PAYING RENT IN SHARES. 

Under 3 acres 126 

3 acres and under 10 4,211 

10 acres and under 20 7,910 

20 acres and under 50 17,152 

50 acres and under 100 6,773 

100 acres and under 500 7,357 

500 acres and under 1,000 471 

Over 1,000 acres 78 



AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. ,}19 



Agricultural Population. 



The census of 1880 shows that three- fourths of the 
population of the State were engaged in agriculture; 
one seventh in professional and personal service ; one 
fifteenth in manufacturing, mining and mechanical ope- 
rations; and one thirtieth in trade and transportation. 



Agricultural and Horticultural 
Societies. 



There are several agricultural societies in the State, 
and their transactions and annual meetings are produc- 
tive of much good in bringing together the farmers and 
in competitive exhibitions of the products of their skill 
and labor. Prominent among these are: 

The State Agricultural Society, annual fair held at 
Raleigh. 

District Grange, fair held at Woodlawn. 

Western North Carolina Agricultural Society, annual 
fair held at Asheville. 

Dixie Agricultural Society, annual fair held at Wades- 
boro. 

Edgecombe Agricultural and Mechanical Society, fair 
held at Tarboro. 



320 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Carolina Fair Association, fair held at Charlotte. 

New Garden fair, held at New Garden. 

Cumberland County Agricultural Society, fair held at 
Fayette vi lie. 

Roanoke and Tar River Agricultural Society, annual 
fair held at Weldon. 

Eastern Carolina Agricultural and Mechanical Society, 
annual fair held at Rocky Mount. 

Sampson County Agricultural Society, annual fair held 
at Clinton. 

North Carolina Industrial Association (col.), annual 
fair held at Raleigh. 

There is also a prosperous State Horticultural Society, 
whose annual fairs become more and more attractive. 
Annual fair, moveable. 



Ensilage. 



The experiments made in the eastern and piedmont 
sections to preserve forage crops in silos have been uni- 
formly satisfactory. Large quantities of corn, peas, etc., 
have been kept for more than a year in good condition. 
Ensilage is growing in favor, and will form an impor- 
tant factor in stock raising and dairying. It supplies 
those sections not specially adapted to growing grass 
with what completely supplies this deficiency, and ren- 
ders it certain that little if any hay will hereafter be 



AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. 321 

brought into this State. Id fact, with the advantages 
of a mild climate during winter, long growing seasons 
and a bountiful, cheap, nutritious and varied produc- 
tion of forage, there is every reason to believe that stock 
raising will be as remunerative here as in any portion of 
the Union. 



Agricultural Products 



A statement of the agricultural products of the State 
will be found on the following pages. The table, how- 
ever, embraces only the principal products. 

An examination of the census tables will show the 
notable fact that almost every crop produced in the 
United States is found in one region or another of this 
State, so that the widest diversification of industries is 
practicable. 



322 



HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL PRO- 



COUNTIES. 



INDIAN CORN. 



Acres. 



Bales. 



The State ! 893,153: 389,598 



Beaufort 11,785 

Bertie 19,455 

Bladen ! 1,618 

Brunswick j 385 

Buncombe 



Burke i 752| 

Cabarrus I 19,224j 

Caldwell ' 301 

Camden j 2,670! 

Carteret j 2,936 



Caswell 

Catawba ... 
Chatham . 
Cherokee. 
Chowan ... 



Clay 

Cleveland .... 

Columbus 

Craven 

Cumberland. 



Currituck 

Dare 

Davidson . 

Davie 

Duplin 



6| 

5,175 

13,478; 



19,238 
2,113 

12,838 
9,210 

316 
16 

3,779 

790 

9,654 



Edgecombe ' 51,880 

Forsyth 16 

Franklin ". 30,274 

Gaston 10,949 

Gates 5,707 



Graham .. 
Granville. 
Greene .... 
Guilford.., 
Halifax ... 



6,559 

16,988 

283 

432,206 



Acres. Bushels, 



Acres. 



2,305,419128,019,839 500,415 



Alamance j 211 91! 

Alexander j 617 182 

Alleghany ' 

Anson.....* 28,296 11,857 

Ashe 



6,021 

7,290 

683 

244 



361 

7,467 

12 

823 
1,014 

4 

2,012 
5,858 



6,047! 2,223 j 



6,126 

930 

5,782 

3,905 

139 

8 

1,553 

302 
4,499 

26,250 
10 ; 

12,938 
4,588 ' 
1,863 



2,535 j 

8,020; 

114 

16,661 



24,628| 
16,789 1 

7,210; 

29,121 1 
15,616! 

20,225; 
37,735; 
21,556! 
4,915; 
29,108 ; 

22,613 
26,831 
17,315 
23,663 
5,156 

25,663 
21,248 
43,087 
14,507 
13,877 

7,810 
31,339 
15,723 
19,001 
32,677 

23,310 
956 
36,983 
22,125 
36,813 

46,235 
20,920 
32,642 
24,678 
21,946 

4,222 
42,608 
25,148 
39,790 
44,790 



305,874 
212,382 
122,587; 
305,139! 

277,027) 

286,211 
345,091 
188,208 
46,329 
490,544 

325,656 
381,321 
274,495 
294,447 
41,458 

361,641 
358,210 
558,281 
227,650| 
143,156) 

113,462! 
390,281; 
136,546j 
218,256! 
282,423; 

324,819 
11,205 

549,906 : 
438,595! 
330,437! 

433,214; 
335,164! 
338,239; 
373,472 
170,642 1 

66,992- 
515,159 
173,421 i 
519,185! 
437,321 ! 



Bushels. 



3,838,068 



9,618 
7,503 
1,933 
8,999 
3,357 

1,396 

2,403 

362 

240 

6,967 

3,455 
7,592 
3,886 
1,088 
107 

14,441 
7,566 

19,861 

1,534 

791 

1,230 

10,999 

207 

333 ; 

1,509 

267! 

17 

16,924 

13,366! 

433! 

9,589 
11,780 
5,560 
6,699 
1,210 

628 
14,344, 

1,738 
20,774 

4,497 



48,869 
51,752 
19,365 
72,454 
37,955 

18,436 

20,517 

3,795 

2,262 

62,679 

21,762 

54,519 

30,592 

8,854 

1,122 

101,398 
64,236 

120,341 

11,657 

6,888 

7,607 

62,211 

2,517 

4,426 

13,791 

2,734 

230 

122,063 

139,126 

6,132 

94,021 
95,304 
45,812 
50,244 
10,016 

3,914 
110,690 

16,772 
129,723 

41,771 



PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. 



323 



DUCTS OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



Veres. Pounds. 



Acres. Bushels. 



10,846 5,609,191! 61,953 



9791 502,676 



473 
1,489 



140,340 
1,163,852 



4,308 



1,649 
86! 16,861 

413 [ 206,965 



149 

760 
3,121 

179 
4,685 

16! 

33 

261! 

127| 

2,966 

1.054 

75 

684 

5 

85 

53 
181 

63 
1,126 



1 ! 835 

1,201, 642,042 

438; 251,108 

42 19,963 

58 i 7,727 

7| 2,780 



854 

210 

128 

79 

1,513 

15 



629 
17 



300,203; 
2,901 



277 
444 
422 

139 ! 

492! 

229 ] 

64i 



35 



19,214 



566' 
64 
394. 
•354 
123' 



285,160 



Acres. Pounds. Acres, j Bushels. 



57,208 i 26,986,2131 646,829 3,391,398 



619 
2,445 
17,638 

574 
33,809 

94 j 

191 ! 

756 i 

616! 

12,707 

4,009 
355 

2,855 

30 

264 

346 1 

783 j 
328 ; 

4,781; 



1,6* 



28! 

8 
111 

60! 

17 
4 

6 

7! 

947 

58 
14 

75 



3,562 1 

875' 

3011 

847 

4,343! 

75 



10,174 

49 

141 

42 

1 

25! 

23 

15 

6 



695,013i 

11,799! 

2,049: 

4,880! 

11,064! 

5,263 j 

554! 

1,040 

2,502! 

475,428; 

20,079: 

3,239 i 

25,384! 



303> 

4,336,664! 

26,388! 

49,8375 

8.411 1 

398 ! 

5,771 
5,122; 
3,866 
2,732 



1,414 
1,986 i 
l,93l! 

I 

711 

1,968 
961! 
265 



2,126 j 

360 ' 

1,909 

1,725 

520: 



484 

1,205 

16 

3 
1,693 

us! 



4 

8,941 ! 

8 

910 

21 1 



260,538 i 

633,339 

4,655 

550 '■ 

822,788, 

58,932 

2,180 

620 

1,095 

4,606,358 

1,955 

422,716, 

8,487j 



18,661 1 

6,376 [ 
1,760! 
5,969! 
5,473; 

374 

309! 

109! 

8! 

17,501 : 

10,016 i 

17,550 

8,211. 

461 ; 

418 

10,841 

1 5,054 : 

28,900 I 

4,317 

622: 

3,282| 
11,116 

38; 

235 1 
1,141 1 

101 

25 ! 

32,195: 

13,244; 

1,031 

2,422 
13,590! 

8,362' 

11,566 

718 

718 
14,428 

3,638 
27,743 

1300, 



82,163 
35,338 
10,291 
25,846 
39,407 

2,736 

2,189 

521 

70 

84,974 

49,338 

84,650 

42,513 

4,428 

2,090 

58,137 
104,770 
122,760 

47,898 
4,357 

13,093 

55,983 

223 

1,533 

7,494 

892 

167 

174,671 

71,127 

6,292 

16,712 

77,082 

45,504 

62,860 

4,187 

2,919 

90,764 

19,392 

127,214 

9,235 



324 



HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS 



COUNTIES. 



INDIAN CORN. 



Acres. ' Bales. 



Acres. Bushels.) Acres. 



Harnett 

Haywood.... 
Henderson 
Hertford ... 
Hyde 



9,281 3,627 



Iredell .... 
Jackson .. 
Johnston 

Jones 

Lenoir 



10 


4 


14,605 


0,360 


2;513 


718 


11,603 


1,657 


16 


6 


32,193 


15,151 


8,463 1 


4,078 


19,150 


8,235 



Lincoln... 
McDowell 

Macon 

Madison.. 
Martin 



r.442 
23 



2,945 
9 



Mecklenburg. 

Mitchell 

Montgomery.. 

Moore 

Nash 



12 
13,444 

41,343 
15 

6,519 

8,882 
25,768 



4 
6,383 

19,129 
6 

2.989 
3,988 
12:567 



New Hanover. 
Northampton 

Onslow 

Orange 

Pamlico 



142 


66 


36,219 


13,616 


6,058 


2,841 


5,290 


1,919 


4,585 


2,226 



21.244 
17,254 
16,407 
25,521 
21,632 

39,264 
12,793 
45,045 
19,425 
29,838 1 

19,338 
17,675 
14,423 
17,816 

24,209 

41,285] 

11,894 : 
18,090; 
27,934! 

32,490 

I 

2,008 ; 
45,224: 
23,259 
28,542 

6,381 



Pasquotank 

Pender 

Perquimans 

Person 

Pitt 



Polk 

Randolph 

Richmond.... 

Robeson 

Rockingham. 



Rowan 

Rutherford. 

Sampson 

Stanly 

Stokes 



4,004 

1 ,463 

7,025 

2 

31,147 

1,646 

595 

35,198 

21,607 



10,645 

9,679 1 

15,346' 

5,878 

13 



1,181 


28,525 


835 


16,550 


2,778 


21,910 


1 


19,372 


14,879 


46,482 


362 


10,632 


295 


35,338 



12,754 

8,846 



4,381 
2,070 
6,291 
2.475 



Surry. 
Swain 



29,502 
49,961 
25,175 

38,963 
32,783 
53,951 
22,426 
19,969 

25,334: 
6,809 



180,458 
314,446 
227,411 
236,088 ; 
243,623 

588,220 

188,521 
428,996 
186,954! 
274,010 

313.907 
205,934 
222,855' 
348,858 
227,445 

539,385 
209,131 
210,521 
302,196 
295,619 

15,937 

431,581 

185,019 
366,640 

107,050 

348,119; 
159,004 
292,850 

241,523! 

458,166 j 

139,315 
477,168^ 
277,974 : 
360,128 
392,767 

597,519 

394,062 

486,768 
271,8771 
338,781 

397,143 

100,54:-; 



Bushels. 



1,202 
4,099 
2,908 
1,800 

1,354 

17,488 
1,521 
3,176 

455 
1,060 

6,313 
1,690 
1,621 
4,238 
1,447 

12,949} 

3,990 ! 
7,852! 
7,924! 
3,875 

86 

1,805 

96 

12,243 

378 

1 .930 
183 
1,222 
9,821 
3,301 

877 

13,524 

3,571 

2,814^ 

15,200 

17,7511 

6,166 1 

6541 

10,975 

. 8,408| 

0,199 

757 



7,640 
35,834 
23,087 
14,512 

18.400 

129,429 
9,440 

29,958 
5,426 

12,217 

44,939 
13.111 
12,209 
38,816 
11.220 

04,356 
40.845 
50.248 
48,744 
30,135 

606 

45,700 

1.280 

86J268 

4.,s4.1 

17,4:> 

2,200 

13,921 

56,921) 

29.401; 

5,786 

88,380 

32,279 

22,845 

139,260 

142.121 

31,971 

6.297 

72,223 

72,301 

70,737 
L301 



PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. 325 



OF NORTH CAROLINA.— Continued. 



Acres. Pounds. 



1,016 



36 
321 
208 

1 
2 



1 
441 



S30 



304,671 



19,672 

118,777 

95,559 

1,230 
545 







11 


3,150 




















315 


• 
260,068 


L59 


92,565 




Acres. Bushels. 



394 276,174! 

2 810 
392 248,622 j 

3 2,090 
j i 

161 ! 110,0671 



38 17,460 
303 181,393 



609 
240,086 



48 

757 ■ 

3,734 

112 

14 

359 

1,583 

324 

245 

685 

28' 

1,360 

1,823! 

■816! 

25! 

78 

1,358 

1301 

1,512 

85 



13 
14 
30 
13 

2S4 

606 
148 
942 
1,548 
301 

253 

689 

109 

89 

1,195 

3,027 
515 



Acres. Pounds. 



1,257 

4,383 

16,351 

334 

133 

1,581 
7,878 
1,032 1 
1,2101 

2,460! 

155 j 
5,016 1 
8,734, 
4,641 1 

151 

403 

9,021 

425 

3,954 
336 



448 

65 
208 



32 

100 

29 



465 

21 

36 

li 

45 

■ 15 

100, 

46' 

1,626! 

1 

10 

77 
54 
70 

27 



9,510 

39,516 

4,087 

2,160 

517 

242,714 

4,801 

12,881 

250 

13,500 

6,085 

30,541 

9,154 

807,911 

211 

2,291 
29,647 
14,370 
15,724 

7,562 



36 20,484 

2 730 

>,323 1,178,732 

12 1,52u 



98 

46 

259 

86 ' 

1,394' 

2,680; 
729! 
2,338! 
3,952; 
1,381 

1,134; 

2,438! 

2.086', 

497 ! 

5,0231 

1.0,482 

2,259 



3 690 

1 400 

5,868 3,012,387 

3 598 



4 

45 

6 

■2 
9,332| 

216! 

38 

28 

8 

4,690 1 

2,136 
11 



931 

11,101 

1,305 

577 
4,341,250 

115,251 

12,908 

14,352 

1,735 

2,131,161 

905,250 
1,166 



Acres. Bushels. 



2,393 
10,054 

2,598 

817 

1,079 

17,476 

4,217 

3,711 

429 

5,067 

10,159 

6,397 

5,565 

7,702 

940 

12,295; 
3,374 j 
9,197 

11,242 

3,787 



1,725 

' 18,358 

285 

3,300 

7 
2,957 
8,974; 
3,787 j 

1,896: 

29,443 

3,751 ! 

875| 
11,298 j 

24,195! 

8,683! 

1,249! 

16,465' 

9,374; 

9,823 j 
1,4731 



10,957 

56,587 

12,295 

6,891 

8,949 

88,056 
21,801 
25,111 

2,588 
32,800 

65,949 
32,903 
27,038 
40,192 
6,254 

66,767 
19,725 
39,702 
45,413 

27,560 



14,193 



96,006 
2,101 

i 

22,453 
28 
25,514 
51,935 
22,664 

9,516 

137,104 

19,994 

6,153 

71,187 

138,278 

39,085 

7,970 

70,070 

55,284 

42,046 
6,578 



326 



HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS 



COUNTIES. 



Acres. Bales 



Transylvania . 

Tyrrell , 

Union 



3,481 
19,090 



Wake ' 59,916 

Warren i 21,603 

Washington | 8,117 

Watauga I 10 

Wayne | 32.103 

Wilkes 107 

Wilson 23,706 

Yadkin j 87 

Yancey i 



1,123 
8,336 

30,115 

7,778 

3,524 

3 

14,558 

29 

13,049 

26 



INDIAN CORN. 



Acres. Bushels. Acres, Bushels 



9,762 

8,300 

28,877 

53,172 
28,457 
15,824 
8,227 
44,469 



154,769 
108,839 
338,520: 

612,869 ■ 
293,773| 
217,6311 
148,204| 
466,432' 



34,865 480,089: 

27,288 299,957' 

21,735 j 343,070! 

11,200 i 205,6591 



257 

781 1 

14,357 1 

13,948; 
5,559! 
1,065 

1,828; 
1,779 j 

8,240 ! 

1,590 i 

11,289; 

3,657' 



2,870 

7,022 

101,719 

98,962 
46,090 
13,427 
23,205 
18,600 

55,360 
13,682 
79,443 
43,631 



PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. 327 



OF NORTH CAROLINA.— Continued. 



RICE. 


RYE. 


TOBACCO. 


WHEAT. 


Acres. 


Pounds. 


Acres. 


Bushels. 


Acres. 


Pounds. 


Acres. 


Bushels. 






3,289 


16,043 


10 


3,853 


869 

261 

12,464 

14,783 

5,098 

647 

2,957 

7,041 

9,515 

2,804 

10,190 

3,940 


3,760 


503 


237,515 


2,067 




12 

211 
39 

68 

2,387 

819 

5,236 

73 

821 

1,290 


67 

1,109 

189 

380 

18,850 

2,922 

17,569 

522 

3,723 

7,647 


9 

230 

J,759 

4 

23 

198 

110 

17 

425 

84 


3,467 

94,354 

992,256 

685 

7,210 

102,979 

33,211 

8,745 

177,595 

33,898 


49,783 






72,341 






37,888 


87 


60,873 


5,564 

22,247 


567 


294,201 


37,195 
37,696 


6 


1,800 


21,115 

48,762 






21,452 









WOODS AND TIMBERS 



The area of land covered with woods and timbers 
now standing in each of the counties of the State, as 
far as reported in Hale's Woods and Timbers of North 
Carolina, will be found in the table hereto annexed : 



COUNTIES. 



WOODED AREA. 



Alexander One half. 

Anson One third.. 

Ashe Seven tenths. 

Bladen Nine tenths. 

Brunswick ..jTwo thirds. 

Camden One half. 

Caswell One half. 

Chatham One third. 

Cherokee |Four fifths. 

Clay jFivp sixths. 

Cleveland Six tenths. 

Columbus Two thirds. 

Currituck Three fifths. 

Davidson Two thirds. 

Davie One third. 

Edgecombe One half. 

Forsyth.. One third. 

Gaston Three fifths. 

Gates Three fourths. 

Graham jSeven eighths. 

Granville Six tenths. 

Greene One half. 

Halifax |Six tenths. 

Haywood Four fifths. 

Iredell lOne half. 

Jackson 'Five sixths. 

Johnston Two thirds. 

Lincoln Two thirds. 

Macon Five sixths. 



COUNTIES. 



WOODED AREA. 



Madison Three fou rths. 

Mitchell JThree fourths. 

Montgomery ....jThree fourths. 

Moore JOne half. 

Northampton... One half. 

Onslow [Six tenths. 

Orange One third. 

Pamlico Nine tenths. 

Pender Two thirds. 

Perquimans One fourth. 

Person One eighth. 

Pitt.. Three fourths. 

Polk Three fourths. 

Randolph jFive sixths. 

Richmond |Two thirds. 

Robeson Two thirds. 

:Rockingham ....One third. 

Rowan |One third. 

Rutherford Three fourths. 

Sampson...' (Six tenths. 

Surry Three fourths. 

Swain JFive sixths. 

Tyrrell jSeven tenths. 

Union One third. 

Vance lOne tenth. 

Warren One half. 

Wayne Four tenths. 

Wilson Six tenths. 

Yadkin lOne half. 



TAR, PITCH AND TURPENTINE. 



329 



The United States census for 1880 gives the amount 
of merchantable pine — long-leaf pine (Pinus australis) — 
standing in fifteen counties as follows: 



COUNTIES. 



Bladen 

Brunswick... 

Chatham 

Columbus.... 
Cumberland . 

Duplin 

Harnett 

Johnston 

Moore 



NO. FEET. 



COUNTIES. 



NO. FEET. 



288,000,000 
141,000,000 
448,000,000 
288,000,000 
806,000,000 
21,000,000 
486,000,000 
563,000.000 
504,000,000 



New Hanover... 96,000,000 

lOnslow ' 34,000,000 

'Robeson ; 864,000,000 

Sampson 602,000,000 

iWake , 48,000,000 

iWayne 40,000,000 

i 

Total 5,229,000,000 



TAR, PITCH AND TURPENTINE. 



For a long period this State has been the principal 
source of supply of these products. 

According to the census of 1870, there were pro- 
duced in that year 3,799,499 gallons of spirits of tur- 
pentine, 456,141 barrels of rosin and 300 barrels of tar. 
The census of 1880 gives 6,279,200 gallons of spirits of 
turpentine, 663,967 barrels of rosin and 80,000 barrels 
of tar. 

The total value of the crop of naval stores was not 
far from $8,000,000. 



330 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

From the line of the Carolina Central and Raleigh & 
Augusta Air Line, there were shipped in 1885 182,000 
barrels of rosin and 39,000 barrels of spirits. 

From Wilmington 344,713 barrels of rosin; 70,012 
barrels of spirits; 65,874 barrels of tar; 43,701 barrels 
of crude turpentine. 

From Fayetteville about 12,000 barrels of spirits of 
turpentine and 40,000 barrels of rosin. 

From Newbern 10,000 barrels of spirits and 2,000 
barrels of tar. 



SILK CULTURE. 



The following notice of silk culture is from the hand 
of Mr. Edward Fasnach, of Raleigh, North Carolina, 
who speaks from a practical knowledge of the business. 



Among the undeveloped resources of North Carolina 
there are probably none deserving of more thoughtful 
consideration than silk culture. 

The mulberry, which supplies the food for the silk 
worm, is indigenous, and grows in great abundance in 
almost every section of the State, and it attains its fullest 
development with scarcely any cultivation. Nor is the 
silk-giving quality of its leaves less noticeable, for, 
wherever North Carolina grown silk has been put to a 
test, it has been found of most excellent quality, and 
equal to the best French and Italian. 

There is no branch of agriculture that offers so gen- 
erous a reward for so little capital invested as silk cul- 
ture. The making of a crop, from the hatching to the 
gathering of the silk, be the crop small or large, will 
consume but six weeks' time. Moreover, the otherwise 
unemployed members of the family, as the women, the 
children, the aged, and even infirm, can here find profit- 
able occupation. Nor is silk culture limited to the farm 



332 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

or country, but where there is a room and food for the 
silk worm available, whether it be in town or city, silk 
can be raised. It is computed that there are 270,994 
families in North Carolina; now, if only 10,000 would 
make a small crop each year of two hundred to three 
hundred pounds of silk, the aggregate income would 
amount to between one and two millions of dollars. 
Three-fourths of the silk in France is the production of 
small crops, from two hundred to four hundred pounds. 
It is a source of great wealth to that nation, and con- 
tributes more than any other branch of industry to the 
general prosperity of the people. The French call silk 
culture une de nos gloires industrielles (one of our indus- 
trial glories). 

Our endless tracts of cheap and uncultivated lands, so 
well adapted to the growth of the mulberry, and our 
mild and equable climate, present strong inducements to 
French and Italian colonies of silk growers, with whom 
the culture of silk has become an hereditary occupation. 

The rapid progress and fast increasing production of 
the American silk manufactories cannot but have an 
encouraging influence upon silk culture in this country. 
The raw silk imported, duty free, last year, amounted to 
about twelve millions of dollars. 

The prices for cocoons and raw silk have of late years 
verv much fluctuated. While the cocoons sold in 1876 
at $3.00 per pound, they are selling to-day at $1.25. 
These are the extreme figures; the average price may be 
fairly stated at $1,50 per pound. 



SILK CULTURE. 333 

Two hundred mulberry trees will grow very well on 
two acres of land. A good medium-sized tree will yield 
one hundred and fifty pounds of leaves, which will give 
30,000 pounds of leaves on two acres. As it takes sev- 
enteen pounds of leaves to make one pound of fresh 
cocoons, 30,000 pounds will give 1,765 pounds of fresh 
cocoons. 

The 1,765 pounds of fresh cocoons will make 588 
pounds of dried cocoons. 

A ready market for these cocoons can be found in 
Philadelphia through the medium of the Department of 
Agriculture. 

The expenses of cultivating two acres in trees, feeding 
the worms, &c, may be stated as follows: 

1 grown person first ten days % 10.00 

2 boys or girls " " " 6.00 

3 grown persons second ten days 20.00 

5 boys or girls " " " 15.00 

3 grown persons third ten days 30.00 

16 boys or girls " " " 38.00 

$ 129.00 

If a few dollars for food is added, a few days work 
for pruning and cultivating the trees, and a few sundries, 
it would cover all the expenses, which would not exceed 
$160. 



FISHING INTERESTS. 



The North Carolina fisheries are the most important 
on the South Atlantic coast. They yielded in 1880 four 
times as much food fish and employed three times as many 
persons as they did in 1870, and yet, south of Albemarle 
sound, they are practically undeveloped on account of 
lack of shipping and refrigerating conveniences. The 
means of shipment are increasing every year, however, 
and, with this advantage, the enterprise of the people 
along the coast will build up, at various points, a large 
trade in fish, such as Wilmington, Beaufort, Newbern 
and Washington now have. 

The principal commercial fisheries are the herring, 
shad, bluefish, mullet, Spanish mackerel, sturgeon, men- 
haden, bass, trout and oyster. 

The large rivers and brackish sounds of North Carolina 
are visited annually by immense numbers of shad and 
herring, and in spring and early summer the fishing is 
extensive in many portions of the State. The principal 
fisheries, however, are near the junction of the Roanoke 
and Chowan rivers, at the head of Albemarle sound, and 
in the Neuse and the Tar rivers. In the herring fish- 
eries the State ranks first on the list, with 15,520,000 
pounds, netting the fishermen $142,847. The quantity 



FISHING INTERESTS. 335 

of shad taken in 1880 was 3,221,263 pounds, being a 
little below the Maryland catch, but the price realized is 
so much greater that the value of the catch is more than 
double that of the Maryland fishery, because the shad 
are marketed before fishing begins there. The sea fish- 
eries, when compared with those of the more northern 
States, are of little importance, though, in the bays and 
sounds between Beaufort and Wilmington, many follow 
fishing for a livelihood, and secure annually large quan- 
tities of the various species. The mullet fisheries of 
North Carolina are second only to those of Florida, the 
catch in 1880 amounting to 3,368,000 pounds, valued at 
$80,500. 

The catch of bluefish, striped bass and trout, will 
average about a million pounds each per annum, and the 
run of these fish increases rather than diminishes. 

Spanish mackerel are becoming more common along 
our shores. The Census Bulletin of last June estitnates 
the number caught at ten thousand pounds, but this 
must be far under the real catch. Half that weight was 
caught during the past summer, by gentlemen fishing 
for sport at Beaufort and Morehead City, and these 
points represent a small area of the fishing grounds. 
The largest sturgeon and the best are caught and shipped 
from North Carolina waters, aggregating a million 
pounds in weight. 

The Menhaden fisheries have variable success, ac- 
cording to the run of the fish. In some years the 
waters are alive with them, and the fishermen cannot 



336 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

handle them for number, in other years the run is small, 
and the seasons work unfavorably to the fishermen. In 
1868 the catch was 50,000 pounds at Manteo, Dare 
county. . It fell off during the next two years, but has 
increased annually since, and there are now three fish 
oil mills at Beaufort that are supplied from these fish- 
eries. Formerly a few were used for food, and the rest 
were thrown away. 

There are the usual varieties of game fish and other 
fish that do not come under the head of commercial fish, 
found in the streams and ponds of all sections of the 
State. 

The following summary represents the statistical re- 
view of the North Carolina Fisheries : 

Persons employed 5,274 

Fishing vessels 95 

Fishing- boats - 2,714 

Capita! dependent on the fishery industries $506,561 

Pounds of sea products taken (including oysters). . .11,357,300 

Value of same $280,745 

Pounds of river products taken 20,892,188 

Value of same $546,950 

Total value of products to the fishermen $827,695 



The Oyster Survey. 



The oyster beds of the State have grown in favor 
during the last few years, and consequently their product 
has greatly increased to supply the demand. The New 



THE OYSTER SURVEY. 337 

river oyster has a great local reputation, and is preferred 
by connoisseurs to the oysters of Virginia and Mary- 
land. It sells for a uniform price. The total yield 
is 200,000 bushels. 

Under a resolution of the General Assembly, the 
Board of Agriculture is now conducting an examination 
of the oyster area of the State. The survey is made 
under the direction of Lieut. Francis Winslow, U. S. 
Navy, whose experience and learning will give the re- 
sults of the work great scientific as well as economic 
value. 

The proposed plan of work is to extend the examina- 
tion from Morehead City to the southward. To then 
extend operations from Morehead to the northward 
through Core, Pamlico, Albemarle and Currituck sounds. 

So far the investigation has proceeded fairly well not- 
withstanding the inclement season of the year and the 
delays incidental to preparation and to all tentative op- 
erations. The survey of Bogue Sound has been com- 
pleted and that of the White Oak river is well under 
way. The indications are that about 15,000 acres 
of bottom in Bogue Sound can be turned into oyster 
ground; or, in other words, an area now unproductive 
can probably be made to yield an annual crop worth 
over $300,000. 



15 



338 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

German Carp. 



Carp culture was begun and carried on by the Board 
of Agriculture for the purpose of introducing a valua- 
ble food fish. In process of time it was found that about 
twenty-five hundred ponds were established in the State. 
These being generally distributed, young carp became 
accessible and cheap in every section. The Board hav- 
ing accomplished its object, the culture of carp was or- 
dered to be discontinued. 

In 1877 the Department began the propagation and 
culture of fish in the inland waters of the State. The 
work was done under the direction of Mr. S. G. Worth, 
Superintendent of Fish and Fisheries, who released over 
25,000,000 shad fry in the tributaries of Pamlico and 
Albemarle sounds, and the rivers flowing into South 
Carolina. The hatchery at Avoca, on Albemarle sound, 
was furnished with the most approved apparatus. 

About a million California salmon and mountain trout 
were distributed in the waters of the western part of the 
State. The work of artificial propagation has been sus- 
pended. 

Fish Oil Mills. 



At Beaufort, on Beaufort harbor, are three Fish Oil 
Mills for expressing the oil and making fish scrap for 
fertilizers of the menhaden and refuse and unmarketable 



FISH OIL MILLS. 339 

fish. The offal of fish has been utilized as a fertilizer 
for years past on the plantations contiguous to the large 
fisheries on the sounds and rivers. This waste, at the 
Albemarle fisheries alone, thus used, is estimated as 
3,000 tons per annum. When to these figures is added 
the refuse from the Pamlico and the smaller sounds and 
the rivers that empty into them, the aggregate of ferti- 
lizing material is seen to be very large. The analysis of 
this refuse shows a high result. The immense schools 
of menhaden on the coast and in the sounds attracted 
attention a number of years ago and desultory attempts 
to take them were made, but on account of extravagant 
equipment, want of business management and proper 
acquaintance with the modes of fishing in these waters, 
they were, as a rule, unsuccessful. 

An old fisherman gives the following account of the 
visits of the menhaden to the eastern waters: "They 
first make their appearance in June and remain until 
December; thev generally come into the shore on the 
northern coast of the cape, running south along the 
beach and entering the inlets and rivers. In the first of 
the season they may be seen, in moderate weather, five 
or six miles at sea, in large schools half a mile in length, 
apparently floating upon the surface of the water. They 
always make their appearance from the north and leave 
the coast by the same route. Some are seen in the 
sounds and rivers all the year. When the second large 
run occurs in the fall they appear in immense numbers. 
This is sometimes in November and in other seasons in 
December. Many schools may be seen at one time. 



340 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

They seldom come near the coast in high winds and 
rough seas, or if they do they swim so low that they are 
not seen from land. Their appearance is certain, and 
they are about the same in abundance every year at the 
spring run, but the fall and winter runs vary somewhat, 
the number in some seasons being very much smaller." 

The sources of material for the manufacture of com- 
mercial fertilizers are sought for to keep pace with their 
use, and as these fish are especially valuable for produc- 
ing ammonia, the demand for them will increase from 
year to year. The points to which preference will be 
given for the establishment of factories are those where 
they will be found in greatest abundance. On the east- 
ern waters of the State are many such points, notably 
Roanoke Island. It is almost equally accessible to Albe- 
marle and Pamlico sounds, the great headquarters of the 
menhaden, and near the great fisheries where a large sup- 
ply of offal can annually be had. It has unlimited 
facilities for the transportation of its products by sea and 
by land from Edenton, Elizabeth City, Newbern, Wash- 
ington and Morehead City. 

Indications are that fishing for material for fish oil 
mills will become one of the steady and profitable pur- 
suits of the eastern section. 

In 1880 there was a fish oil factory at Manteo, on 
Roanoke Island. During the summer of 1882 the three 
now in operation in Carteret county, near Beaufort, were 
established. In one of these engines with 48 horse 
power are used in running machinery and pumps. There 
are seventeen cooking tanks, holding twenty barrels of 



fish on, mills. :}41 

fish each, two presses, four curbs, two pumps and a 
hoisting engine for unloading boats. Two acres of 
ground are covered with boards for drying scrap. The 
scrap house is 40x60 feet. The factory is 50x60 feet, with 
sheds and engines and boiler houses attached. There is 
a good dock 40x60 feet, with twelve feet of water. A 
steamer and sail vessels and boats are used for catching 
fish, which are taken in purse nets. The number of 
hands employed is thirty-three, and the capacity of the 
works is six hundred barrels of fish per day. 

Of another establishment the daily capacity is five 
hundred barrels of menhaden. The fish are mostly 
caught with purse seines, but large quantities are bought 
from fishermen, who use the ordinary hauling seines and 
set-nets. During the fishing season there are employed 
at the works, on the seines and on the freight boats, from 
thirty-five to fifty men, at wages ranging from $17.00 to 
$40.00 per month. In addition to the regular employes; 
there are seventy-five or one hundred men engaged in 
catching fish in their own nets, which they sell to this 
establishment. 

There is another steam factory, with hydraulic presses, 
in operation, but its capacity has not been ascertained. 

There are also four small works, with caldrons for 
cooking the fish and handpresses for pressing the oil from 
them. 

This industry will give employment from the first of 
April to the last of November to four hundred men, at 
good wages, and will yield $150,000 per annum when 
there is a good catch of fish. 



NEWSPAPERS IN THE STATE. 



Stanly Observer Albemarle. 

Cou rier Ash boro. 

Citizen ..Asheville. 

Advance Asheville. 

Blue Ridge Baptist Asheville. 

Mountain Voice Bakersville. 

Western Democrat Bakersville. 

Gazette Carthage. 

Times Chad bourn. 

University Monthly Chapel Hill. 

Bud Clayton. 

Observer Charlotte. 

Home- Democrat Charlotte. 

Methodist Advance Charlotte. 

Church M essenger Chariot te. 

Evening Chronicle Charlotte. 

Caucasian , Clinton. 

Times Concord. 

Register Concord . ■ 

Current Dallas. 

The College Student Dallas. 

Monthly Davidson College. 

Recorder Durham. 

Tobacco Plant. Durham. 

Reporter Durham. 

Times Durham. 

Reporter and Post Danbury. 

Enquirer Edenton. 



NEWSPAPERS IN THE STATE. 343 

Carolinian Elizabeth City. 

Falcon Elizabeth City. 

Economist Elizabeth City. 

Bladen Bulletin Elizabethtown. 

Observer and Gazette Fayetteville. 

News Fayetteville. 

Weekly Franklinton. 

Gazette Gastonia. 

Enterprise; Germanton. 

Messenger Goldsboro. 

Argus Goldsboro. 

Gleaner Graham . 

Patriot Greensboro. 

Workman G reensboro. 

New North State Greensboro. 

Central Protestant : Greensboro. 

Reflector Greenville. 

Democratic Standard Green ville. 

Gold Leaf , ■ Henderson . 

Southern Woman Henderson. 

Press , Hickory. 

Western Carolinian Hickory. 

Highlander High lands. 

Enterprise High Point. 

Observer Hillsboro. 

News Kernersville. 

Free Press Kinston. 

Cadet LaGrange. 

Exchange Laurinburg. 

Dan Valley Echo Leaksville. 

Topic Lenoir. 

Chronicle Lenoir. 

Dispatch Lexington. 

Press Li ncol n ton . 

Times Louisburg. 

Rattler Lonisbnrg. 



344 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Robesoni an Lu raberton. 

Bugle Marion. 

Chronicle M il ton . 

Advertiser Milton. 

Times Mocksville. 

Enquirer and Express Monroe. 

Star Morganton. 

News Mt. Airy. 

Bulletin Murphy. 

Index Murfreesbora 

Journal Newbern. 

Free Will Baptist Newbern. 

People's Advocate Newbern. 

Enterprise Newton . 

Torchlight Oxford. 

Orphans' Friend Oxford. 

Oak Leaf Oak Ridge. 

Record Pittsboro. 

Home Pittsboro. 

Roanoke Patron Potecasi. 

News and Observer Raleigh . 

Evening Visitor Raleigh. 

Register Raleigh. 

State Chronicl e Ral eig h . 

Biblical Recorder Raleigh. 

Christian Advocate Raleigh. 

Christian Sun — Raleigh. 

Spirit of the Age Raleigh. 

North Carolina Teacher Raleigh. 

North Carolina Farmer Raleigh. 

St. Mary's Muse Raleigh. 

Times Reidsville. 

Dollar Weekly Reidsville. 

Rocket Rockingham. 

Spirit of the South Rockingham. 

Reporter Rocky Mount. 



NEWSPAPERS IN THE STATE. 345 

Tab River Talker Rocky Mount. 

Enterprise Rutherford College. 

Person County Courier Roxboro. 

Banner Rutherford ton. 

People's Press , Salem. 

Carolina Watchman Salisbury. 

Herald Salisbury. 

Democrat Salisbury. 

Telegraph Snow Hill. 

Democrat Scotland Neck. 

Aurora Shelby. 

New Era Shelby. 

Herald Smithfield. 

Landmark Statesville. 

American Statesville. 

Christian Advocate Statesville. 

Pamlico Enterprise Bayboro. 

Southerner Tarboro. 

Sentinel Tarboro. 

Guide Tarboro. 

Trinity Magazine Trinity. 

Montgomery Vidette Troy. 

Anson Times Wadesboro. 

Intelligencer Wadesboro. 

Gazette Warrenton. 

Gazette Washington. 

Watchtower Washington. 

Reveille ..Washington. 

Banner Washington. 

Progress.. Washington. 

News Weldon. 

News Waynesville. 

Star Wilmington. 

Review Wilmington. 

North Carolina Medical Journal Wilmington. 

North Carolina Presbyterian Wilmington. 



346 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Post Wilmington. 

Journal, Wilmington. 

Africo-Amertco Presbyterian Wilmington. 

Advance Wilson. 

Mirror Wilson. 

Zion's Landmark Wilson. 

Union Republican Winston. 

Sentinel Winston. 

Twin City Daily., Winston. 

Pilot Winston. 

Progressive Farmer Winston. 

Student Wake Forest. 



COMMERCIAL FACILITIES. 



Railroads in North Carolina in 1886 



Albemarle and Raleigh, between Williamston and Tarboro. 

Alma and Little Rock, bet. Alma and Little Rock. 

Abbottsburg and Newburg, bet. Abbottsburg and Newburg. 

Asheville and Spartanburg, bet. Asheville, N. C. and Spar- 
tanburg, S. C. 

Atlanta and Charlotte Air-Line, bet. Charlotte. N. C, and 
Atlanta, Ga. 

Atlantic and North Carolina, bet. Goldsboro and Morehead 
City. 

Atlantic, Tennessee and Ohio, bet. Charlotte and Statesville. 

Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley, bet. Bennettsville, S. C, and 
Dalton, N. C. 

Carolina Central, bet. Wilmington and Shelby. 

Chadbourn and Conwayboro, bet. Chadbourn, N. C, and 
Conwayboro, S. C. 

Cheraw and Wadesboro, bet. Cheraw, S. C, and Wadesboro, 
N. C. 

Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta, bet. Charlotte, N. C, 
and Augusta, Ga. 

Chester and Lenoir, bet. Lenoir, N. C, and Chester, S. C. 

Clinton and Warsaw, bet. Clinton and Warsaw. 

Danville, Mocksville and Southwestern, bet. Danville, 
Va., and Leaksville, N. C. 



348 HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

East Tennessee and Western N. C, bet. Johnson City, 
Tenn., and Cranberry, N. C. 

Elizabeth City and Norfolk, bet. Edenton, N. C, and Nor- 
folk, Va. 

Halifax and Scotland Neck, bet. Halifax and Hill's Ferry. 

Jamesville and Washington, bet. Jarnesville and Washing- 
ton. 

Hamlet and Gibson, bet. Hamlet and Gibson. 

Louisburg and Franklinton, bet. Lonisburg and Franklin- 
ton. 

Milton and Sutherlin, bet. Milton, N. C, and Sutherlin, Va. 

Nashville and Rocky Mount, bet. Nashville and "Rocky 
Mount. 

North Carolina, bet. Goldsboro and Charlotte. 

Northwestern North Carolina, bet. Greensboro and Salem. 

North Carolina Midland, bet. Goldsboro and Smithfield. 

Oxford and Henderson, bet. Oxford and Henderson. 

Petersburg, bet. Petersburg, Va., and Weldon, N. C. 

Piedmont, bet. Greensboro, N. C, and Danville, Va.' 

Pittsboro and Moncure, bet. Pittsboro and Moncure. 

Raleigh and Augusta Air- Line, bet. Raleigh and Hamlet. 

Raleigh and Gaston, bet. Raleigh and Weldon. 

Seaboard and Roanoke, bet. Portsmouth, Va., and Weldon, 
N. C. 

Tarboro Branch, bet. Rocky Mount and Tarboro. 

University, bet. University Station and Chapel Hill. 

Wilmington and Weldon, bet. Wi'mington and Weldon. 

Wilmington, Columbia and Augusta, bet. Wilmington, N. 
C, and Columbia, S. C. 

Western North Carolina, bet. Salisbury and Paint Rock and 
Jarrett's. 

Wilson and Fayetteville, bet, Wilson and Fayetteville. 



INLAND STEAMBOAT NAVIGATION. 349 



Inland Steamboat Navigation. 



There are eleven hundred miles of inland steamboat navigation in 
North Carolina. 

Ocean steamers of large burden come into Wilmington and Beau- 
fort, and the Old Dominion and Clyde lines of coastwise steamers 
come to Newbern, Elizabeth City and Washington via the Albe- 
marle and Chesapeake Canal. The sounds are navigated by a large 
fleet of light-draft and fast steamboats that furnish abundant means 
of transportation for passengers and freight between the numerous 
points where they touch. 

Steamboats run up the Chowan and Blackwater to Franklin, Va., 
and up the Meherrin to Murfreesboro; up the Roanoke to Halifax ; 
up the Neuse to Kinston ; up the Trent to Trenton; up the Cape 
Fear to Favetteville ; up the Tar to Tarboro ; up the Scuppernong 
to Creswell ; up the Alligator to Fairfield; up the Cashie to Wind- 
sor; up the Perquimans river to Belvidere; up the Little river to 
Woodville; up the Pasquotank many miles above Elizabeth City; 
»p North river to Indian township, and up Contentnea and Swift 
creeks to the head of navigation. 



POPULATION. 



The following statement shows the population and 
area of each county in North Carolina, according to the 
census of 1880. 

In the column entitled "colored" are included the 
very few Chinese, Japanese and Indians. 



Population. 



COUNTIES. 



Alamance . 
Alexander. 
Alleghany 

Anson 

Ashe 

Beaufort... 

Bertie 

Bladen 

Brunswick. 
Buncombe 

Burke 

Cabarrus... 
Caldwell... 
Camden... 
Carteret.... 

Caswell 

Catawba.... 



7i 
O 


> 




u 


99,750 


867.242 


532,508 


48,580 


14,613 


9.997 


4,616 


430 


' 8,355 


7.458 


897 


300 


5,486 


4.967 


519 


300 


17,994 


8.790 


9,204 


, 500 


14.437 


13,471 


966 


450 


17,474 


10,022 


7,452 


720 


16,399 


6.815 


9,584 


720 


16,158 


7,598 


8,560 


900 


9,389 


5,337 


4,052 


950 


21,909 


18,422 


3,487 


620 


12,809 


10,088 


2,721 


400 


14,964 


9,849 


5,115 


I 400 


10,291 


8,691 


1,600 


450 


6,274 


3,791 


2,483 


280 


9,784 


7,107 


2,677 


520 


17,825 


7,169 


10,656 


400 


14.946 


12.469 


2,477 


i 370 



STATEMENT 

SHOWING NUMBER ACRES OF LAND, VALUE OF LAND, V'ALUE OF TOWN LOTS, AGGREGATE VALUE OF LAND AS1) ;„„ LOTS, NUMBER AND VALUE OF HORSES, MULES, JACKS, M:\Mt\ GOATS, CATTLE 
HOGS AND SHEEP, VALUE OF FARMING UTENSILS, MONEY ON HAND, SOLVENT CREDITS, STOCK IN INclpoRATED COMPANIES, OTHER PERSONAL PROPERTY AND RAILROAD PRANCHISe' 
AGGREGATE VALUE OF ALL PERSONAL PROPERTY, AND AGGREGATE VALUE OF REAL AND PERSONAL PBlPKUTV IN THE STATE— Reprinted from the Report of the StftU Auditor for lm;,t near 

ending November 30, 1885. 




1,01 111 .•'■''. 



POPULATION. 



351 



Population 



COUNTIES. 



Chatham 

Cherokee 

Chowan 

Clay 

Cleveland.. ... 

Columbus 

Craven 

Cumberland .. 

Currituck 

Dare 

Davidson 

Davie 

Duplin 

Edgecombe ... 

Forsyth . 

Franklin 

Gaston 

Gates 

Graham ... 

Granville 

Greene 

Guilford.. 

Halifax 

Harnett . .. . 
Haywood 
Henderson ... 

Hertford 

Hyde 

Jredell 

Jackson 

Johnston . 

Jones 

Lenoir 

Lincoln 

McDowell 

Macon 

Madison 

Martin 

Mecklenburg. 



o 



23,453 

8,182 

7,900 

3,316 

16,571 

14,439 

19,729 

23,836 

6,476 

3,243 

20,333 

11,096 

18,773 

26,181 

18,070 

20,829 

14,254 

8,897 

2,335 

31,286 

10,037 

23,585 

30,300 

10,862 

10,271 

10,281 

11,843 

7,765 

22,675 

7,343 

23,461 

7,491 

15,344 

11,061 

9,836 

8,064 

12,810 

13,140 

34,175 




15,500 
7,796 
3,633 
3,175 

13,700 
8,926 
6,664 

12,594 
4,495 
2,875 

16,341 
7,770 

10,587 
7,968 

13,441 
9,476 

10,188 
4,973 
2,123 

13,603 
4,652 

16,885 
9,137 
7,092 
9,787 
8,893 
5,122 
4,424 

16,752 
6,591 

15,996 
3,212 
7,277 
8,180 
7,939 
7,395 

12,351 
6,661 

17,922 



7,953 

386 

4,267 

141 

2,871 

5.513 

13,065 

11,242 

1,981 

368 

3,992 

3,326 

8,186 

18,213 

4,629 

11,353 

4,066 

3,924 

212 

17,683 

5,385 

6,700 

21,163 

3,770 

484 

1,388 

6,721 

3,341 

5,923 

752 

7,465 

4,279 

8,067 

2,881 

1,897 

669 

459 

6,479 

16,253 



E 



GO 



800 
500 
240 
160 
420 
750 
900 
900 
200 
270 
600 
300 
670 
500 
340 
420 
340 
360 
250 
750 
300 
680 
680 
540 
740 
360 
340 
430 
600 
920 
670 
450 
420 
270 
440 
650 
450 
500 
680 



352 



HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



Population. 



COUNTIES. 



o 






4> 



o 
O 



Mitchell 

Montgomery ., 

Moure 

Nash 

New Hanover. 
Northampton.. 

Onslow 

Orange 

Pamlico 

Pasquotank .... 

Pender 

Perquimans 

Person 

Pitt 

Polk 

Randolph 

Richmond 

Robeson 

Rockingham ., 

Rowan 

Rutherford 

Sampson 

Stanly 

Stokes 

Surry 

Swain 

Transylvania . 

Tyrrell 

Union 

Wake 

Warren 

Washington 

Watauga 

Wayne 

Wilkes 

Wilson 

Yadkin 

Yancey 



9,435 

9,374 

16,821 

17,731 

21,376 

20,032 

9,829 

23,698 

6,323 

10,369 

12,468 

9,466 

13,719 

21,794 

5,062 

20,836 

18,245 

23,880 

21,744 

19,965 

15,198 

22,894 

10,505 

15,353 

15,302 

3,784 

5,340 

4,545 

18,056 

47,939 

22,619 

8,928 

8,160 

24,951 

19,181 

16,064 

12,420 

7,694 



8,932 

6,857 

11,485 

9,417 

8,159 

7,987 

6,600 

14,555 

4,207 

4,855 

5,509 

4,795 

7,206 

10,704 

3,918 

17,758 

8,141 

11,942 

12,431 

13,621 

11,910 

13,347 

-9,166 

11,730 

13,227 

3,234 

4,823 

3,110 

13,520 

24,289 

6,386 

4,554 

7,746 

12,827 

17,257 

8,655 

10,876 

7,369 



503 

2,517 

5,336 

8,314 

13,217 

12,045 

3,229 

9,143 

2,116 

5,514 

6,959 

4,671 

6,513 

11,090 

1,144 

3,078 

1-0,104 

11,938 

9,313 

6,344 

3,288 

9,547 

1,339 

3.623 

2,075 

550 

517 

1,435 

4,536 

23,650 

16,233 

4,374 

414 

12,124 

1,924 

7,409 

1,544 

325 










HAND-BOOK 



OF 



JORTH CAROLINA 



PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



v 

v 




RALEIGH 
P. M. HALE, STATE PRINTER \ND BINDER 

1886 



i i 



352 



HAND-BOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



Population. 



COUNTIES. 



o 






o 
O 



Mitchell 

Montgomery . 

Moure 

Nash 

New Hanover 
Northampton. 

Onslow 

Orange 

Pamlico 

Pasquotank ... 

Pender 

Perquimans 

Person 

Pitt 

Polk 

Randolph 

Richmond 

Robeson 

Rockingham . 

Rowan 

Rutherford .... 

-Sampson 

Stanly 

Stokes 

Surry 

Swain 

Transylvania . 

Tyrrell 

Union 

Wake 

Warren 

Washington 

Watauga 

Wayne 

Wilkes 

Wilson 

Yadkin 

Yancey 



9,435 

9,374 
16,821 
17,731 
21,376 
20,032 

9,829 
23,698 

6,323 
10,369 
12,468 

9,466 
13,719 
21,794 

5,062 
20,836 
18,245 
23,880 
21,744 
19,965 
15,198 
22,894 
10,505 
15,353 
15,302 

3,784 

5,340 

4,545 
18,056 
47,939 
22,619 

8,928 

8,160 
24,951 
19,181 
16,064 
12,420 

7,694 



8,932 


503 


6,857 


2,517 


11,485 


5,336 


9,417 


8,314 


8,159 


13,217 


7,987 


12,045 


6,600 


3,229 


14,555 


9,143 


4,207 


2,116 


4,855 


5,514 


5,509 


6,959 


4,795 


4,671 


7,206 


6,513 


10,704 


11,090 


3,918 


1,144 


17,758 


3,078 


8,141 


10,104 


11,942 


11,938 


12,431 


9,313 


13,621 


6,344 


11,910 


3,288 


13,347 


9,547 


9,166 


1,339 


11,730 


3,623 


13,227 


2,075 i 


3,234 


550 


4,823 


517 


3,110 


1,435 


13,520 


4,536 


24,289 


23,650 


6,386 


16,233 


4,554 


4,374 


7,746 


414 


12,827 


12,124 ! 


17,257 


1,924 


8,655 


7,409 


10,876 


1,544 


7,369 1 


325 


















HAND-BOOK 



OF 



NORTH CAROLINA 



PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



RALEIGH 
P. M. HALE, STATE PRINTER AND BINDER 

1886 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




014 417 844 





